is october a good time to visit north vietnam

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Tips

The Best (and Worst) Times to Visit Vietnam, According to Experts

Here's when to visit Vietnam for sunny weather, lower prices, and excellent sightseeing.

Best Times to Visit for Smaller Crowds

Best times to visit for good weather, best times to visit for lower prices, best times to visit for hiking in sa pa, best times to visit for cruising ha long bay, worst times to visit.

Khoa Nguyen/Getty Images

Cinnamon and star anise perfume my memories of Vietnam, a country that lodged itself into my palate in fragrant, frenzied bursts. That alluring scent of pho was one of few constants as I traveled through vastly different landscapes, trekking through verdant rice terraces, dodging motorbikes en route to speakeasies, and standing face to face with an endangered monkey in my oceanfront outdoor shower — all within the span of two weeks. 

Vietnam is more than 1,000 miles long, a spectacularly slim country that’s only 30 miles wide at its narrowest point. Every region boasts its own allure as well as its own climate, which means you’ll need to carefully consider the time of your visit based on your desired itinerary. 

“As the climate varies so much from north to south, there will always be somewhere worth going in Vietnam, whatever time of year you travel,” says Melissa Matthews, regional director for Southeast Asia and North America at luxury travel company Red Savannah .

Here's a regional breakdown of the primary tourist seasons in Vietnam:

• High Seasons: North: September to November, March and April; Central: April to August; South: October to April 
• Shoulder Seasons: North: December to February, May to August; Central: September to March; South: September to December 
• Low Season: North: May to October; Central: September to May; South: May to September

Before you start planning your trip, read on to learn about the best times to visit Vietnam for hiking the majestic, mountainous rice terraces of Sa Pa, cruising the limestone marvels of Ha Long Bay, and avoiding the rainy monsoon season. 

Bang The Tran/Getty Images

The high season in Vietnam varies according to the region, so you’ll always be able to find a place that feels more secluded from the bustle of crowded beaches or cruise ships. Wet season attracts fewer crowds, says Matthews, which falls from May to October in the north, September to May in the central part of the country, and May to September in the south. 

Visiting during this time has plenty of perks, as you’ll likely be able to save on accommodations and travel costs. Popular restaurants and tours will be less overrun with tourists, offering a rare opportunity to better immerse yourself in the local culture as you tuck into bun cha on a sidewalk stool. However, bursts of rain and cloudy weather can dampen any plans to hike in Sa Pa or cruise along Ha Long Bay — two quintessential experiences you won’t want to miss. 

There are also an abundance of places that remain less crowded throughout the year, says Benjamin Kreuz, general manager of Six Senses Ninh Van Bay — the resort itself is one of them, nestled in a private cove of Nha Trang that became my personal definition of paradise. Many visitors tend to prioritize other attractions as they make their way south, so natural wonders in the north like Ban Gioc Waterfall and the network of caves in Quang Binh remain less busy. 

Meet the Expert

• Melissa Matthews is the regional director for Southeast Asia and North America at luxury travel company Red Savannah.
• Benjamin Kreuz is the general manager of Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in Vietnam.

No matter when you visit, you’ll always find good weather somewhere in Vietnam. “Vietnam is a beautiful country with tropical weather, making it suitable for visits throughout the year,” says Kreuz. 

For those hoping to see Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and everything in between, it’s best to go in the dry season. “February and March are the best months to see the entire country from north to south in relatively dry weather,” says Matthews. She notes that Tet, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls during this time and can last for up to 10 days. “During this time, most of the key sights in the cities are closed, as everyone goes back to their family villages to celebrate,” she says. She recommends heading to the beach during the festival and bookending your trip with time in the major cities. 

For a dry and temperate trip to Sa Pa or Hanoi in the north, head there from September to November, or in March and April, she suggests. A sunny beach visit to Hoi An or Nha Trang in the central region is best from April to August, while the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc Island in the south are warmest from October to April. 

Vietnam is a relatively affordable destination all year long, with abundant and economical street food and comfortable hotels for all budgets. For your best chance at scoring low-cost flights and accommodations, consider traveling outside the peak tourist season. April, May, October, and November are excellent times, as you’ll still find warm weather throughout the country, but will have fewer tourists to contend with. 

Wand_Prapan/Getty Images

A visit to the verdant, terraced rice fields of Sa Pa are a must for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Overlooking the Muong Hoa Valley, the hills are surrounded by spectacular mountains and home to dozens of communities, including the Hmong and Red Dao peoples — many of whom open their homes for overnight stays and lead private or group trekking tours. You can reach this famed hiking destination by car from Hanoi in five hours, by a bus in six to eight hours, or on an overnight sleeper train. 

Matthews notes that this region tends to get colder from December to February, so it’s best to plan a trip from September to November or in March and April. Harvest season is also an unforgettable time to visit: In late August through September, the vibrant green hillsides turn a voluptuous shade of gold as the rice ripens. 

Nikada/Getty Images

Ha Long Bay, with its emerald waters and limestone towers, is one of the primary tourist destinations in Vietnam, and as such, has become increasingly overrun with cruise operators leading day tours. For a less crowded experience, consider booking an overnight cruise that will take you deeper into the bay — or to the equally beautiful, slightly less populated neighboring Lan Ha Bay. (I splurged for a two-night cruise with Orchid Cruises , one of the more luxurious tour operators). 

March, April, October, and November are ideal months to visit, as they tend to bring warm and sunny weather without as much humidity. You’ll also avoid the peak season, so while it’s still bound to be busy, you can enjoy kayaking through the tranquil waters and hiking Cat Ba island in relative peace. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a great opportunity for a snorkeling or scuba diving adventure. 

Nick Dolding/Getty Images

While Vietnam’s varied climate means there’s never really a bad time to visit, you may want to avoid traveling to the country during monsoon season. 

“When the monsoon hits, it is hard and heavy and very humid,” says Matthews, who suggests sightseeing in cities during the wet season, where you can still visit museums and historic temples between rainstorms. “Avoid the mountainous region of Sa Pa and definitely don’t book a cruise in Ha Long Bay, as storms will occur and boats are grounded,” she warns. 

If you do decide to travel during the rainy season, it’s best to remain flexible in your planning, says Kreuz. “Consider not booking everything in advance due to unpredictable weather,” he says, adding that staying open-minded may help you to take advantage of potential low-season discounts. 

Tet, which marks the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is another tricky time to visit, as many landmarks and businesses close for a week or more to celebrate. It typically lands in late January or early February — this year, it falls on Feb. 10. 

• 2 Weeks for Couple
• 2 Weeks for Family
• Thailand Lantern Festival
• Indonesia(Bali)
• South Korea
• China (HK, Taiwan)
• Itinerary Ideas
• Asia Highlights Travel Reviews
• Thailand Travel Reviews
• Vietnam Travel Reviews
• Cambodia Travel Reviews
• Japan Travel Reviews
• Myanmar Travel Reviews
• China Travel Reviews

Best (and Worst) Time to Visit Vietnam 2024

Vietnam experiences two main seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Generally, the best time to visit most of Vietnam is from November through April, when temperatures are mild and rainfall is relatively low.

Vietnam doesn't seem very big, but it's very diverse, and the weather varies a lot from north to south. Planning the best time to go to Vietnam can be tricky. We would like to give you some insider suggestions and tips, and help you to find the right place to explore at any time of year.

• Best Times to Visit Vietnam
• Worst Times to Visit Vietnam
• Travel Guide By Month

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Best Times to Visit Vietnam for Great Weather, Low Prices

As mentioned above, November to April is the best period to visit Vietnam . However, this can depend on which part of the country you plan to visit, what activities you want to do, budget, and weather preferences.

1) Best Time to Visit for Great Weather

Northern Vietnam , including Hanoi and Halong Bay, has a subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. The best time to visit this region is from October to April when the weather is cooler and drier. The summer months from May to September can be hot and humid, with occasional typhoons and heavy rain.

Central Vietnam , including Hue, Hoi An, and Danang, has a tropical climate with two seasons: a dry season from January to August and a rainy season from September to December. The best time to visit this region is from February to June when the weather is dry and mild.

If you and your children are planning to visit during the summer holidays ( between June and August), you could enjoy sunny and blue skies but expect high temperatures around 35°C (95°F) and crowds. Our 2-Week Vietnam Family-with-Teenagers Holiday is specially designed for a family summer vacation.

In Southern Vietnam , including Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, the rainy season runs from May to October and the dry season runs from November to April. The best time to visit this region is from November to April when the weather is dry and pleasant.

2) Best Times to Visit for Low Prices

Vietnam is a very affordable destination throughout the year, though travelers typically find the steepest discounts on accommodations, flights, and tours during the rainy season (May to October in north and south Vietnam, September to December in central Vietnam).

Cultural and historical cities, like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, are less affected by the weather. And they have plenty of indoor activities, such as cooking classes and making lanterns. Thus, if you are flexible and prepared, the low season promises smaller crowds, big savings, and still plenty of things that can be enjoyed.

3) An Insider's Guide to the Best Times to Visit Vietnam

In our experience, if your travel time is flexible, the ideal times to travel are the period just before the peak season and the period just after the peak season (the periods of early May and late October) . At this time, the weather is still fine, crowds die down, and hotels are cheaper.

Check out more tips on planning your trip to Vietnam or contact our specialist , who would tailor-make an itinerary for you based on your requirements including available travel times.

The Worst Times to Travel to Vietnam (Monsoon and Typhoon Seasons)

If you don't like rain, you should consider avoiding the rainy season.

The truth is that even in the peak of the rainy season, the rainfall is not persistent , mainly coming in short downpours of one or two hours. You can still enjoy most of a day without much inconvenience.

One thing that needs to be noted is the disruptive typhoon season in north and central Vietnam . Your Halong Bay cruise can be canceled or delayed if you travel between July and August, when the bay is at risk of typhoons and storms. Your trip in coastal places of central Vietnam, such as Hoi An, may have to be interrupted due to typhoon flooding, usually occurring between September to October.

Although the rainy season has its drawbacks, it also means lower crowding and better prices . With a well-planned and flexible schedule, you can still enjoy a great trip.

Our flexible private tours are guaranteed to make your trip smoother and easier. You would get timely support and expert contingency plans, if the weather causes delays/cancellations or itinerary changes. 

Contact us to start your worry-free Vietnam trip.

Vietnam Travel Guide by Month

Vietnam weather in january.

• Northern Vietnam: cool and dry, 15–20°C (59–68°F)
• Central Vietnam: mild and damp, 22–27°C (72–81°F)
• Southern Vietnam: warm and dry, 26–32°C (79–90°F)

January is generally a cool/mild and dry/damp month in the northern and central regions of Vietnam. However, it can be quite cold in the mountainous far north in places such as Sapa, with temperatures dropping below 10°C (50°F). The southern region tends to be warmer and dry.

January is a great time to visit most parts of Vietnam. However, if you're hoping to visit the beaches, keep in mind that the weather may be a bit cool for swimming or sunbathing.

Vietnam's Lunar New Year, known as Tet, sometimes falls in late January, and it can be an exciting time to visit Vietnam to experience the festive atmosphere and traditions. But get ready for more crowds and higher prices.

Learn more about Vietnam in January and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in February

• Northern Vietnam: mild and dry, 14°C to 22°C (57°F to 72°F)
• Central Vietnam: mild and dry, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F)
• Southern Vietnam: warm and very dry, 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F)

February is a good time to visit Vietnam, with pleasant weather and little rainfall. The north can still be cool, while the south really starts to warm up.

February is considered part of the high season for tourism in Vietnam, but it's not as busy as December and January. However, it's important to note that the Lunar New Year (Tet) usually falls in February, and many Vietnamese people travel during this time, so transportation and accommodations may be more crowded and expensive. Book hotels as early as possible.

Learn more about Vietnam in February and the best places to visit .

• Vietnam Weather in March
• Northern Vietnam: warm and dry, 15–25°C (59–77°F)
• Central Vietnam: warm and dry, 20–30°C (68–86°F)
• Southern Vietnam: hot and very dry, 23–34°C (73–93°F)

As winter comes to an end, the weather in Vietnam becomes warm in March. The north and central regions can still be cool in the evenings and mornings, while the south tends to be hot and rainless.

March is a good month for outdoor activities like exploring the countryside around Hanoi and Hoi An. It's also a good time to visit the beaches in central Vietnam, as the sea is usually calm and the weather is warm.

Learn more about Vietnam in March and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in April

• Northern Vietnam: warm, moderately rainy, 19°C to 28°C (66°F to 82°F)
• Central Vietnam: sunny and hot, 22°C to 33°C (72°F to 91°F)
• Southern Vietnam: hot, low rainfall, 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F)

April is generally a good time to visit Vietnam as it's mostly dry and warm, with temperatures ranging from around 20–30°C (68–86°F) in most regions. However, it can be hot and humid in the south, and sudden showers may come and go quickly.

It is a great time to explore Vietnam's natural beauty, such as cruising on Halong Bay, enjoying the beaches in central Vietnam, or visiting the Mekong Delta in the south.

Learn more about Vietnam in April and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in May

• Northern Vietnam: warm, medium rainfall, 25–30°C (77–86°F)
• Central Vietnam: hot, light showers, 28–32°C (82–90°F)
• Southern Vietnam: hot, high rainfall, 30–35°C (86–95°F)

May is the beginning of the hot season in Vietnam, particularly in the central and southern regions. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C in some areas.

A private tour with a flexible travel pace is essential to avoid the burning sunshine and have an enjoyable trip. You can choose to start your days earlier in the morning, have a siesta, and go out later in the afternoon, or plan some indoor activities such as cooking class.

The bright side of this month is that you can expect fewer crowds and lower prices.

Learn more about Vietnam in May and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in June

• Northern Vietnam: hot, heavy showers, 26–33°C (79–91°F)
• Central Vietnam: hot, light showers, 26–35°C (79–95°F)
• Southern Vietnam: hot and wet, 25–32°C (77–90°F)

June is one of the hottest months of the year in Vietnam. It is also the start of the rainy season in the north and south, with regular thunderstorms and heavy rain.

June can be a challenging time to visit Vietnam due to the hot and humid weather, especially in the south. However, if you're comfortable with the heat and enjoy outdoor activities, it can still be a good time to visit central Vietnam and enjoy the beaches. Just be prepared for heavy rain showers in some regions, and make sure to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.

Learn more about Vietnam in June and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in July

• Central Vietnam: hot, humid, 25–34°C (77–93°F)
• Southern Vietnam: hot, heavy showers, 24–32°C (75–90°F)

July is a hot and humid month in most parts of Vietnam, with regular rain showers due to the summer monsoon season.

However, you should see more pleasant weather in central Vietnam (Danang, Hoi An, and Nha Trang), where sunny days and blue skies are perfect for a beach vacation. Expect accommodation prices to rise and crowds to thicken due to Vietnamese students' summer holiday. Book your hotels several months in advance.

If you travel to northern Vietnam and southern Vietnam, you're suggested to take rain gear, choose more indoor activities, and always have a "tour plan B" for each day.

Learn more about Vietnam in July and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in August

• Northern Vietnam: hot, heavy showers, 26–32°C (79–90°F)
• Central Vietnam: hot, medium rainfall, 25–34°C (77–93°F)
• Southern Vietnam: hot, heavy showers, 23–32°C (73–90°F)

August is a hot and rainy month in north and south Vietnam. August experiences storms or heavy rains, which might affect your trip in Halong Bay, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta. The good news is that the rains come and go quickly.

The central region of Vietnam including Hue, Danang, and Hoi An is the best choice, due to its sunnier weather. Be prepared for crowded beaches as domestic travel is at a peak because of summer vacations. Contact us for an early booking!

Learn more about Vietnam in August and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in September

• Northern Vietnam: hot, heavy showers, 25–32°C (77–90°F)
• Central Vietnam: warm, very high rainfall, 24–32°C (75–90°F)
• Southern Vietnam: warm, very high rainfall, 23–32°C (73–90°F)

September is a transitional month in Vietnam, with the weather starting to shift from the rainy season to the dry season or vice versa.

North Vietnam edges towards the end of its summer, although you can still expect plenty of hot weather as well as some rain. Central Vietnam enters its extremely torrential rainy season, with a high chance of storms or typhoons. Southern Vietnam also experiences hot temperature and frequent rain.

The best places to go are in Northern Vietnam including Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa.

Learn more about Vietnam in September and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in October

• Northern Vietnam: warm, medium rainfall, 22–29°C (66–84°F)
• Central Vietnam: warm, torrential storms, 23–29°C (73–84°F)
• Southern Vietnam: warm, high rainfall, 23–31°C (73–88°F)

October is one of the best months to visit North and South Vietnam, with moderate temperatures in between the showers. The north is warm, while the south is still hot sometimes.

However, October is the worst time for a vacation in central Vietnam, which faces a high risk of typhoons and violent storms, leading to flooding in lowland cities.

Learn more about Vietnam in October and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in November

• Northern Vietnam: warm, light rain, 19–26°C (66–79°F)
• Central Vietnam: warm, torrential rain, 21–27°C (70–80°F)
• Southern Vietnam: warm, medium rain, 22–31°C (72–88°F)

November is the start of the dry winter season in the north, with cooler temperatures and less humidity/rainfall, which brings large numbers of travelers flocking to Hanoi and Halong Bay.

Meanwhile, the central region is still in the peak of its soaked and stormy typhoon season. If you are travelling in this region (Hue, Danang, Hoi An) in November, keep your itinerary flexible in case of flight delays or cancellations.

The south begins its dry season, with medium-to-low rainfall and sunny skies more likely than not. This month is a great time to visit HCMC, the Mekong Delta, and offshore islands such as Phú Quốc.

Learn more about Vietnam in November and the best places to visit .

Vietnam Weather in December

• Northern Vietnam: becomes mild and dry, 15–22°C (59–72°F)
• Central Vietnam: warm, high rainfall, 20–25°C (68–77°F)
• Southern Vietnam: warm/hot, low rainfall, 21–32°C (70–90°F)

It's all good news in the north and south with some of the best conditions of the year, moderate temperature, and blue skies. Hanoi and the north experience excellent dry and clear days, however it can be cold, especially in the evenings. The southern islands of Phu Quoc can be a top pick for your beach vacation.

In central regions of Vietnam, the rains start to decrease, but stormy weather is still a strong possibility, especially early in December.

The Christmas and New Year holidays bring Vietnam into another high season for travel. Make sure you book a late December tour at least 3 months in advance.

Learn more about Vietnam in December and the best places to visit .

Why Asia Highlights (10,000+ reviews & 98.8% 5-star rating)

• Save Your Time:
• Less research, more enjoyment!
• Real-time 1V1 expert planning
• Maximize Your Flexibility:
• Personal local guide and ride
• Explore at your own pace
• Celebrate Your Journeys:
• Specially-crafted family adventures
• Celebrate milestones with style!
• 10-Day Best of Vietnam with Mekong Delta
• 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour
• 19-Day Highlights Tour of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
• 14-Day Classic Vietnam and Thailand Tour
• 7 Days in Vietnam: 6 Best Itinerary Ideas for First Timers, Families and Couples
• 10 Days in Vietnam: 5 Best Itineraries in 2024/2025
• How to Plan a Thailand and Vietnam Trip (2024/2025): 10 Days, 2, 3 Weeks Itineraries
• How to Visit Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam 2024: 10, 14 and 21-Day Itinerary Ideas
• Vietnam Weather in January 2025: Cool & Dry, Best Places to Go
• Vietnam Weather in February: Cool & Dry, Insider Tips for Peak Season
• Vietnam Weather in April 2024: Insider Tips
• Vietnam Weather in May 2024: Best Places to Go
• Vietnam Weather in June: Hot & Rainy? Best Places to Go
• Vietnam Weather in July: Too Hot & Rainy? Best Places to Go and Travel Tips
• Vietnam Weather in August: Too Hot & Rainy? Best Places to Go
• Vietnam Weather in September: Still Rainy? Best Places to Go
• Vietnam Weather in October: Still Rain? Where to Visit?
• Vietnam Weather in November, Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Vietnam Weather in December 2024, Travel Tips for First-Timers

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.

More Travel Ideas and Inspiration

Sign up to our newsletter.

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Why Asia Highlights

Where can we take you today.

• Middle East
• African Safari
• Travel Agents
• Loyalty Program
• Our Differences
• Privacy Policy

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

• Customized Tour

Vietnam Weather in October: A Guide for Travelers

Halong Bay is one of the natural wonders of Vietnam and a must-see attraction

Vietnam is a beautiful country with a diverse culture, nature, and cuisine. But what is the weather and climate like in October? Is it a good time to travel to Vietnam? In this article, we will give you an overview of the weather and climate conditions in different regions of Vietnam, such as North, Central, and South. We will also share some suggestions on what to do and where to go in Vietnam in October, depending on your preferences and interests. Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation, or culture, you will find something for you in Vietnam.

October brings the weather conditions as one of the best months for traveling to Vietnam again. Things keep improving in the North with less rainfall, less humidity and more palatable temperatures. Although it is an opposite story for the Central when high rainfall and the chance of stormy weather tumble in this region, the summer monsoon rains gradually fade away in the South, giving a promise of the returning summer. This article will deliver more details about weather of Vietnam in October and other necessary information for your best preparation. Here we go!

Table of Contents

Mekong Delta

Ho chi minh city, northern vietnam, central vietnam, southern vietnam, travel guide for october, events in vietnam, weather in september in some famous places in vietnam.

In October, Vietnam experiences an average temperature of 26°C (79°F). Rainfall decreases by half in Northern Vietnam, drops by 20% in Southern Vietnam, but doubles to significant levels in Central Vietnam. October brings clearer skies, cooler weather, and autumn colors to Northern Vietnam, including Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa.

In the north, October marks the end of the wet season. As the month progresses, temperatures and rainfall decrease, particularly in the second half, signaling the arrival of the cooler, dry winter (average temperature: 26°C).

The central coast faces the cold monsoon from October to April, which is less pleasant. From October to December, the north enjoys warm and sunny weather, but starting from March, it can become unbearably hot. To avoid crowds, the best times to visit Vietnam are May, June, and September.

Central Vietnam experiences heavy rain and storms in October, making it challenging to travel and sunbathe. It is advisable to avoid Hoi An during October and November due to the risk of severe flooding, with water reaching knee- or waist-high levels in the streets.

Given the hot weather, it is recommended to pack lightweight, loose-fitting clothes made of natural fabrics like linen, silk, and cotton, which keep you cool and are easy to wash and dry. Wearing light wool against the skin can help regulate body temperature.

Sapa is one of the best places to visit in Northern Vietnam in October

In October, Sapa has a pleasant and temperate climate, with an average temperature of 18.6°C (65°F), a high of 25.3°C (78°F) and a low of 15°C (59°F). October is also one of the driest months in Sapa, with an average rainfall of 87.5mm (3.4 inches) and 11.7 rainy days. The rain is usually light and short-lived, and does not affect much the outdoor activities.

October is one of the best months to visit Sapa, as the weather is comfortable and the scenery is spectacular. You can enjoy the view of the golden rice terraces during the harvest season, visit the colorful ethnic markets, or join a trekking tour to explore the mountains and valleys.

The average temperature in Hanoi during October is around 25.3°C (77.54°F). The maximum temperature varies from 23°C (73.4°F) to 33°C (91.4°F) while the minimum temperature ranges between 17°C (62.6°F) and 26°C (78.8°F). The average humidity in October in Hanoi is 73.4% which is 6.0% lower than September and 0.5% higher than November. The average rainfall in October in Hanoi is 77.8mm with an average of 11 rainy days.

During October, Hanoi experiences a hot and humid climate, averaging 25°C (77°F) with highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 22°C (72°F). This month is known for its significant rainfall, averaging 100mm (3.9 inches) spread across 11 rainy days. The rain can be intense and frequent, often occurring in the afternoon or evening, leading to potential flooding and traffic congestion in certain areas.

October is a transitional month between the rainy season and the dry season in Hanoi. The weather becomes more comfortable and pleasant as the month progresses, with less humidity and more sunshine. The sky is blue and the leaves change colors to yellow, creating a beautiful autumn scenery.

October is a good month to visit Hanoi, as the weather is mild and the scenery is stunning. You can enjoy the view of the city’s landmarks, such as the Hoan Kiem Lake , the Temple of Literature , or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum . You can also explore the Old Quarter, where you can find many shops, cafes, restaurants, and street vendors. You can also join some cultural events and festivals that take place in Hanoi in October, such as the Vietnam Women’s Day.

Ninh Binh experiences hot and humid weather in October, with an average temperature of 25.5°C (77.9°F). The highs can reach 29°C (85°F), while the lows can drop to 22°C (72°F). October is characterized by heavy rainfall, averaging 41mm (1.6 inches) over 7 rainy days. The rain often occurs in the afternoon or evening and may lead to flooding or landslides in certain areas.

October is a transitional month between the rainy season and the dry season in Ninh Binh. The weather becomes more comfortable and pleasant as the month progresses, with less humidity and more sunshine. The sky is blue and the leaves change colors to yellow, creating a beautiful autumn scenery.

October is a good month to visit Ninh Binh, as the weather is mild and the scenery is stunning. You can enjoy the view of the limestone karsts, rice fields, rivers, and caves that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trang An . You can also explore the historical and religious sites of Ninh Binh, such as the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, where you can see the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties, or the Bai Dinh Pagoda , which is the largest Buddhist complex in Vietnam.

Halong Bay is a natural wonder in the northeast of Vietnam, famous for its thousands of limestone islands and islets, caves, floating villages, and biodiversity. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam .

In October, Halong Bay has a warm and dry climate, with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F), a high of 28°C (82°F) and a low of 21°C (70°F). October is also one of the driest months in Halong Bay, with an average rainfall of 54mm (2.1 inches) and 11 rainy days. The rain is usually light and short-lived, and does not affect much the cruise activities.

October is one of the best months to visit Halong Bay, as the weather is pleasant and comfortable. The humidity level drops considerably and the sky is clear and blue. The visibility is good and the sea is calm and warm. You can enjoy the stunning views of the bay, explore the caves and islands, visit the floating villages, or join some water sports.

October in Hoi An brings warm and humid weather, averaging at 25.6°C (78°F) with highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 23°C (73°F). It is a rainy month with around 350mm (13.8 inches) of rainfall spread over 18 days. The rain can be intense, often occurring in the afternoon or evening and leading to potential flooding and traffic congestion in certain areas.

October is a transitional month between the rainy season and the dry season in Hoi An. The weather becomes more comfortable and pleasant as the month progresses, with less humidity and more sunshine. The sky is blue and the leaves change colors to yellow, creating a beautiful autumn scenery.

October is a good month to visit Hoi An, as the weather is mild and the scenery is stunning. You can enjoy the view of the old town, with its colorful lanterns, wooden houses, and quaint bridges. You can also explore the cultural and historical sites of Hoi An, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, or the Museum of Trade Ceramics. You can also join some cultural events and festivals that take place in Hoi An in October, such as the Full Moon Festival or the Hoi An Memories Show.

Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, captivates with its beaches, bridges, mountains, and cultural sites. The city boasts a vibrant history and a modern atmosphere.

The climate in Da Nang during October is hot and humid, with an average temperature of 25.6°C (78°F). Highs reach 29°C (84°F) while lows dip to 23°C (73°F). As one of the rainiest months, October brings an average rainfall of 488mm (19.2 inches) over 14 rainy days. Showers, often heavy, occur mainly in the afternoon or evening and can lead to localized flooding and traffic congestion.

October marks the transition from the rainy to the dry season in Da Nang. As the month progresses, the weather becomes more pleasant with lower humidity and increased sunshine. Clear blue skies complement the calm and warm sea, offering breathtaking vistas of the city, beaches, and mountains.

Visiting Da Nang in October is a great choice, given the mild weather and stunning scenery. Embrace beach activities like swimming, surfing, or sunbathing. Explore cultural and historical gems like the Marble Mountains, Son Tra Peninsula, or Cham Museum. Additionally, partake in exciting events and festivals such as the International Fireworks Festival or Halloween Night.

The Mekong Delta, located in the southern part of Vietnam, is renowned for its fertile land, diverse culture, and abundant ecosystem. It spans across 12 provinces and a city, covering approximately 39,000 km2. This region is home to various ethnic groups, religions, and traditions.

During this time, the Mekong Delta experiences a warm and humid climate in October. The average temperature is around 27°C (81°F), reaching highs of 31°C (88°F) and lows of 23°C (73°F). October brings ample rainfall to the Mekong Delta, with an average of 350mm (13.8 inches) and 14 rainy days. Showers can be intense and frequent, particularly in the afternoon or evening, occasionally leading to flooding or landslides in certain areas.

October marks the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in the Mekong Delta. As the month progresses, the weather becomes more pleasant and comfortable, with reduced humidity and increased sunshine. The sky turns clear blue, while the sea remains calm and warm. Visitors can relish the breathtaking vistas of rice fields, fruit orchards, canals, and islands.

With its mild weather and stunning landscapes, October is an excellent time to explore the Mekong Delta. Enjoy boat trips, bike tours, homestays, or cooking classes. Delve into the cultural and historical treasures of the region, such as the Cai Rang Floating Market, Vinh Trang Pagoda, or Cu Chi Tunnels. Engage in the vibrant cultural events and festivals that take place in the Mekong Delta during October, including the Ok Om Bok Festival or the Nghinh Ong Festival.

Ho Chi Minh City, located in southern Vietnam, is the country’s largest and most populous city. It’s a vibrant hub with a rich history and culture, serving as a significant economic, political, and cultural center in Southeast Asia.

The climate in October is hot and humid in Ho Chi Minh City, with an average temperature of 27.4°C (81°F). The city experiences heavy rainfall, averaging 205mm (8.1 inches) across 18 rainy days. These showers, often intense and frequent in the afternoon or evening, may lead to flooding and traffic congestion.

During October, Ho Chi Minh City undergoes a transition from the rainy season to the dry season. As the month progresses, the weather becomes more comfortable, with reduced humidity and increased sunshine. The sky turns blue, and the sea becomes calm and warm, offering picturesque views of the city, river, and skyscrapers.

October presents an excellent opportunity to visit Ho Chi Minh City, as the weather is mild, and the scenery is breathtaking. Engage in various city activities such as shopping, dining, nightlife, and sightseeing. Explore the city’s cultural and historical landmarks, including the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace. Additionally, you can partake in cultural events and festivals like the International Fashion Week or Halloween Night, which occur in Ho Chi Minh City during October.

Phu Quoc, a tropical island in the south of Vietnam, is renowned for its pristine beaches, coral reefs, and national park. It holds the title of Vietnam’s largest island and stands as a top tourist destination in the country.

During October, Phu Quoc experiences warm and humid weather, with average temperatures of 27.5°C (81.5°F), reaching highs of 31°C (88°F) and lows of 24°C (75°F). This month witnesses significant rainfall, with an average of 276mm (10.9 inches) and 19 rainy days. Showers are often heavy and frequent, particularly in the afternoon or evening, occasionally leading to flooding and landslides in certain areas.

October marks the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in Phu Quoc. As the month progresses, the weather becomes more pleasant, offering reduced humidity and increased sunshine. The sky turns blue, while the sea remains calm and warm, providing breathtaking vistas of the beaches, forests, and mountains.

Visiting Phu Quoc in October is recommended due to the mild weather and stunning scenery. The island offers an array of beach activities like swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. Exploring Phu Quoc’s natural and cultural sites, including the Phu Quoc National Park, Dinh Cau Temple, and Phu Quoc Prison Museum, is also highly recommended. Additionally, October hosts cultural events and festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Sea Goddess Festival, adding to the island’s charm.

Vietnam weather by region in October

Popular destinations: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cat Ba, Sapa, Ha Giang, Mu Cang Chai, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, etc.

Rainy season comes to an end in the North Vietnam in October. You will see a drop in both temperature (26 o C on average) and rainfall . The sky is blue and leaves change colors to yellow. The weather even turns milder by end of month because dry winter is approaching then. In the far North like Sapa, Ha Giang, there is a promise on some of best conditions of the year for trekking, photo taking or camping trips with dry and clear weather.

Popular destinations: Hoian, Danang, Hue, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Dalat, etc

The Central Vietnam is close to its peak of rainy season and heavy storms can occur in this month which make temperature dropping and little sunshine hitting the region. The weather also affects the region different via Hai Van Pass, when Hue get cooler on 24 o C on average while it is higher in Danang, Hoian at around 27 o C. Hoian is particularly prone to flooding in October. Further south to Nha Trang, rains are on the rise which stands far from the best time for a beach vacation. Meanwhile, the region has positive note for Dalat and provinces in Central Highlands when downpours start to decrease, promising the good conditions and nice weather for outdoor activities.

Popular destinations: Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Mekong Delta, Long Hai & Ho Tram, Con Dao & Phu Quoc, etc.

In October, the South slowly crawls out of their wet season when the rainfall is on the decline with average 14 days out of the month, but not as heavy as September. The temperature is at 27 o C on average. Meanwhile, beach weather slowly comes back to the South although there is no daily guarantee for good beach day. The beach destinations such as Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Phan Thiet / Mui Ne receive more sunshine and less rain, especially towards the end of the month as dry, hot summer months are waiting ahead.

The weather conditions in October brings back good opportunity for mountainous areas of Sapa, Ha Giang, Mu Cang Chai. It is really good time to visit Mu Cang Chai as the region’s endless rice fields turn a golden colour, ready to harvest and great photos can come to you in this picturesque time of year.

This is also perfect time for Buckwheat season with purple color starts booming, especially in late October to November in Ha Giang. Besides, there are many other interesting activities while visiting Ha Giang such as terraced rice fields, photo exhibition in the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark or old market in Dong Van town.

October is also among the best months of the year for exploring Hanoi and Halong Bay – UNESCO Heritage Site.

Central regions receive high rainfall and sometimes storms but visiting to major cities such as Hue, Danang and Hoian is still acceptable.

In Dalat and the Central Highlands , the heavy rains start to break, especially towards the end of the month which gradually attract the return of outdoor activities.

It is good month to explore Mekong Delta according to its active waterfront and water-borne life. The sun starts to shine again in the southern beaches of Phan Thiet & Mui Ne as well as the islands of Phu Quoc & Con Dao , especially towards end of the month. Green Turtle hatchings still continue around Con Dao island.

October is considered as the most appealing season in Vietnam, so pack lightweight cotton or linen trousers, quick drying materials. No need to pack too much because you can easily buy clothes and other personal things from hats to flip flops at cheap price here.

When you move to the highland areas such as Sapa, Ha Giang, etc, the weather usually becomes cooler, especially early morning and at night. Some warm layer clothes will work in this case. Also, good walking boots with ankle support or a pair of trekking sandals which can fit socks underneath can be a good option. Lightweight raincoat against the wet is also necessary due to the mixture weather conditions throughout the country. Swimwear is a must for relaxing at hotel’s pool or on beach vacation.

Taking advantage of sunny weather that increasingly becomes the norm towards the end of month, the large numbers of international visitors start to grow by this time. South Vietnam beaches welcome the return of more visitors, however, it has been not yet in sufficient numbers to crowd you out.

Hanoi Liberation Day (10 Oct).

10 October 1954 marked the important day when Hanoi was liberated from the French. This became a major celebration of Hanoi. On this day, national flags, flowers and slogans are mostly seen in every corner of the capital to mark the anniversary.

Vietnamese Women’s Day (20 Oct).

Together with International Women’s Day on 8 Mar, Vietnamese also celebrate Women’s Day of Vietnam on 20 October of every year. In this day, many women will get gifts and flowers from their husbands, chidren, friends or colleagues. In addition, some other cultural events are also held to express love & equality for women as well as inspire other young women in Vietnam.

Bodhisattva of Mercy Birthday.

19 February, 19 June and 19 September according to lunar calendar are the three most important birthday of the year for Buddhists all over the world. Each birthday of the Bodhisattva of Mercy has a distinct meaning. On the day of 19/9 lunar calendar (September-October, varying by year), the people will flock to the Buddhist temples which have Bodhisattva of Mercy to pray for good weather, national peace and happy family.

Kin Lau Khau Mau Festival (Lai Chau)

Also known as Thanksgiving or New Rice Festival, Kin Lau Khau Mau ceremony is usually held on the full moon in September (September – October, varying by year) by the Thai people in Muong So commune, Phong Tho district of Lai Chau province.

This is an opportunity to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, a chance for the boys and girls to compete and get to know each other as well as for the people to play freely. Choosing rice to make green rice flakes is an indispensable part of the festival. In addition, the ceremony also organizes many interesting folk games such as chicken badminton, throwing, tug of war …The visitors will have chance to taste Thai dishes such as rock moss, grilled stream fish, sticky rice…

Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda Festival (Nam Dinh).

Located in Hanh Thien village, Xuan Hong commune, Xuan Truong district, Nam Dinh province, the over 400 year old Keo Pagoda is recognized as national intangible cultural heritage. The Keo Pagoda festival annually takes place from the 8th to the end of the 16th lunar month of September (September-October, varying by year) to commemorate the birthday of the ancestor Khong Lo who was the pagoda’s founder. In addition to traditional ceremonies, the festival also organizes traditional boat racing with many unique rituals.

Trung Cuu Festival (Vung Tau)

The festival is annually held at the Big House in Long Son commune, Vung Tau city from 8th – 9th day of 9th month in lunar calendar (September-October, varying by year) as a celebration for peace and to commemorate the merit of Mr. Tran. Although it is not as lavish as other festivals, the festival still attracts many pilgrims to offer incense and pray.

Father-Mother Palace Festival (Binh Thuan)

The Father-Mother Palace Festival is a cultural event of Binh Thuan province in a long time, taking place on every 14-15-16 th day of 9 th lunar calendar (September-October, varying by year) in Tan Tien commune, Lagi town. This is to pray for health and happiness of the family as well as for good business. In addition, the festival organizes many folk games and folk art events that are very attractive to visitors.

Halloween Day (31 Oct)

Originated from Western culture, Vietnamese also celebrate and enjoy Halloween parties, but the concept and main purpose are much different from Western Halloween. Halloween parties are mostly held at backpacker areas, usually in coffee shops, bars and restaurants. On the streets, many young people and children will draw/paint/decorate horror images on their faces and wear very strange customs to join this day.

Please check information about Vietnam weather in other months of year at here: https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-january/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-february/ https://vietnamtravel.com/weather-of-march-in-vietnam/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-april/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-may/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-june/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-july/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-august/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-september/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-november/ https://vietnamtravel.com/vietnam-weather-in-december/

Related Posts

Vietnam Weather: General information & Best Time to Visit

Weather in Ho Chi Minh City: Best time to visit?

Danang Weather: When is the best time to visit Da Nang?

Hoi An Weather

Hanoi Weather

Sapa weather – Best time to visit

Leave a comment cancel comment, request a free quote, thank you we have received your travel request. you will receive an email shortly. please check your email and verify the information. your request will be processed after your confirmation..

You have chosen a tour duration longer than 20 days. Please specify the exact number of days you want to travel in the message box below, so that we can have enough information and make a program for you. Thank you for your cooperation.

You have selected a number of travellers greater than 20. Please let us know the exact number of people in your group in the message box below so that we can quote you accurately. Thank you for your cooperation.

You have selected a number of travellers and duration greater than 20. Please let us know the exact number of people in your group and the exact number of days in the message box below so that we can quote you accurately. Thank you for your cooperation.

• Vietnam Travel Guides
• Travel Planning
• Festivals & Events
• Food & Drinks
• Tourist Maps
• Travel Blog
• Travel News

Our Recommendations

Guideline to get Vietnam E-visa

50 Things You should Know before Traveling to Vietnam

Best Vietnam Private Tours you should know before traveling

Info for travelers on Covid-19 in Vietnam: Entry requirements & Restrictions

You May Also Like

Overview of Danang, Vietnam

Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue

An Giang Tourism

Vietnam Tour Packages from Finland

Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

Vietnam Weather in August: A Complete Guide for Travelers

Top 10 Waterfalls In Vietnam

Diving in Hoi An: Tips, Advices & Best time to Dive

Cu Lao Xanh (Van Phi Island)

Phu Quoc Nightlife: What to do after dark?

• Halong – Lan Ha Bay
• Ho Chi Minh city
• Mekong Delta
• Phu Quoc Island
• Luang Prabang tour
• Southern Laos
• Xieng Khuang
• Nong Khiaw & Muang Ngoi
• Koh Rong Island
• Thailand’s Beach & Bay
• Koh Phi Phi
• Classic highlights
• Family bonding
• Active & adventure
• Anniversary for two
• Art, Culture & History
• Beach Getaway
• Asia Travel Guides

• Travel guide /

Vietnam Weather - Finding your best time to visit North Vietnam

Feb 05, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENT

North Vietnam Highlights

When is the best time to visit north vietnam, which month is the best for north vietnam, what is the weather like in north vietnam, what is the best month to go to vietnam, is north or south vietnam better for tourists.

You are planning to visit Hanoi, Halong Bay, or Sapa in North Vietnam but don’t know what the weather is it. This travel blog from Asia Encounter will provide an overview of its weather patterns and help you find out when is the best time to visit North Vietnam . So, let’s begin!

North Vietnam is a captivating region known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the breathtaking scenery of Halong Bay and the tranquil beauty of Sapa, this part of Vietnam offers a diverse range of experiences.

Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient temples, trekking through rice terraces, or immersing yourself in the local way of life, North Vietnam has something for everyone.

What can you expect in North Vietnam?

• Hanoi is the vibrant capital city blending tradition and modernity with historic landmarks, bustling markets, and delicious street food.
• Halong Bay – UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning limestone karsts, emerald waters, and breathtaking cruises.
• Ninh Binh is known as “Halong Bay on land” featuring scenic landscapes, winding waterways, ancient temples, and picturesque countryside.
• Sapa, the mountainous region known for terraced rice fields, ethnic minority cultures, trekking adventures, and vibrant markets.

North Vietnam Weather By Month

The weather in North Vietnam is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season brings its own unique charm and weather conditions, so it’s important to consider the climate when planning your visit.

Let’s delve into each month for more detail before finding your best time to visit North Vietnam:

In January, North Vietnam experiences winter with average temperatures ranging from 12°C (54°F) to 20°C (68°F). The weather is generally cool, especially in the mountainous regions such as Sapa. It is advisable to pack warm clothing as temperatures can drop significantly during the evenings and early mornings. Expect occasional foggy conditions and the possibility of light rain.

February still falls within the winter season in North Vietnam. The average temperatures range from 12°C (54°F) to 20°C (68°F). Similar to January, the weather remains cool, especially in the northern regions. It’s a good time to visit if you enjoy cooler temperatures, and the lunar New Year festivities, known as Tet, often take place during this month.

March marks the beginning of spring in North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 15°C (59°F) to 23°C (73°F). Spring brings milder weather and occasional rain showers. It’s a great time to witness the blooming flowers and enjoy the pleasant temperatures before the summer heat sets in. tnam

In April, North Vietnam experiences the full swing of spring with average temperatures ranging from 18°C (64°F) to 28°C (82°F). The weather becomes warmer, and the landscapes are lush and vibrant. However, occasional rain showers are still possible during this month.

May is late spring in North Vietnam, with average temperatures ranging from 22°C (72°F) to 32°C (90°F). It’s the transition period before the arrival of summer. The weather is warm, and the chances of rain showers increase. The countryside is adorned with blooming flowers and lush greenery, making it a picturesque time to explore. best time to visit North Vie

June marks the beginning of summer in North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 26°C (79°F) to 36°C (97°F). The weather becomes hot and humid, with frequent rain showers and occasional typhoons. It is recommended to stay hydrated and plan outdoor activities accordingly.

In July, summer is in full swing, and the weather is hot and humid throughout North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 27°C (81°F) to 37°C (99°F). Expect frequent rain showers and occasional typhoons. It’s advisable to seek shade and stay hydrated when exploring outdoor attractions.

August continues the hot and humid summer weather in North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 27°C (81°F) to 36°C (97°F). Rain showers and occasional typhoons are still common during this month. It’s important to plan outdoor activities with the weather conditions in mind and take necessary precautions.

September marks the transition from summer to autumn in North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 25°C (77°F) to 33°C (91°F). The weather becomes more pleasant, with slightly cooler temperatures and reduced rainfall compared to the summer months. It’s a great time to visit for outdoor activities and exploring the picturesque landscapes. best time to visit North Vietnam

October is autumn in North Vietnam, with average temperatures ranging from 22°C (72°F) to 30°C (86°F). The weather is generally pleasant, with cooler temperatures and less rainfall. The landscapes are particularly beautiful during this season as the rice fields turn golden, creating stunning vistas.

November is late autumn in North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 18°C (64°F) to 27°C (81°F). The weather remains pleasant, with cooler temperatures and lower chances of rainfall. It’s an ideal time for outdoor activities and exploring the cultural and natural attractions of North Vietnam.

December marks the beginning of winter in North Vietnam. Average temperatures range from 14°C (57°F) to 22°C (72°F). The weather becomes cooler, especially in the mountainous regions. Foggy conditions are not uncommon during this month.

However, December is also a festive time with the celebration of Christmas and the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet), adding a vibrant atmosphere to the region.

>> Explore more: Best Time to Visit Central Vietnam and Top 5 Must-See Destinations

The best time to visit North Vietnam largely depends on your preferences and the specific activities you plan to engage in during your trip. However, the most recommended time is during the autumn months of September to November . The weather is pleasant, with cooler temperatures and less rainfall, making it ideal for all outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Besides, it is also depend on your time and specific activities you want to join. Here is some information for you to choosing the best time of year to visit North Vietnam:

• Cruising in Halong Bay: Anytime from March to May and September to November when the weather is mild and less prone to typhoons.
• Visit floating village in Halong Bay: Year-round, but the best time to travel to north Vitnam Halong Bay is during the dry season from November to April when the water levels are lower.
• Explore caves in Halong Bay: Year-round, but the best time to visit north Vietnam Halong Bay is during the dry season from November to April to ensure safe and accessible conditions.
• Trekking in Sapa: The best time is from September to November or from March to May when the weather is cool and the landscapes are lush.
• Visit local markets and villages in Sapa: While markets are open year-round, the best time to visit is during the weekends when the markets are bustling with activity. Anytime from March to May and September to November is ideal for village visits.
• Immerse in the best terraces in Sapa: The best time of year to visit North Vietnam Sapa is from September to November when the rice terraces turn golden, or from March to May when they are vibrant green.
• Boat trip in Ninh Binh: The best time is during the dry season from November to April when the water levels are lower, allowing for easier navigation through the waterways.
• Green terraces on the Northern mountain: The best time is from May to September when the terraces are lush green due to the rainy season.
• Sightseeing in Hanoi: Year-round, but the month to visit North Vietnam Hanoi is from September to November and from March to April when the weather is pleasant and ideal for exploring the city.
• Visit historical sites in Hanoi: Year-round, as the historical sites are open throughout the year.
• Admire the hustle and bustle in Hanoi Old Quarter: Anytime, as the Old Quarter is bustling with activity and vibrant atmosphere throughout the year.

>> Explore more: Best time to visit South Vietnam

The best month to visit North Vietnam depends on your preferences and the activities you plan to do. Generally, September to November (autumn) offers pleasant weather and beautiful landscapes. Spring (March to May) is also a great time with milder temperatures and blooming flowers.

The weather in North Vietnam varies throughout the year. Spring is mild, summer is hot and humid with frequent rainfall, autumn is pleasant with cooler temperatures, and winter can be cold, especially in the mountains. It’s advisable to check the specific weather forecast for the time of your visit.

The best month to visit Vietnam depends on the region you plan to visit and your personal preferences. Generally, the months of September to November and March to May are considered favorable for most parts of the country, including North Vietnam. However, it’s essential to research the specific weather conditions of the region you intend to explore.

Both North and South Vietnam offer unique attractions and experiences for tourists. North Vietnam is known for its cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and historical sites, while South Vietnam boasts vibrant cities, beautiful beaches, and the Mekong Delta.

The choice between the two regions depends on your interests and preferences. Many travelers choose to explore both parts of Vietnam to get a comprehensive experience of the country.

In conclusion, the best time to visit this region depends on the specific activities you plan to engage in. And don’t forget to check the weather before coming for the best prepare and experiences in Vietnam .

To make the most of your journey to North Vietnam, consider Asia Encounter , a trusted travel company specializing in creating unforgettable experiences in this region. Whether you’re seeking a Halong Bay cruise, Sapa trekking adventure, or Ninh Binh exploration, Asia Encounter offers expert guidance and tailored itineraries to suit your preferences.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the wonders of North Vietnam during the ideal time for your desired activities. Contact Asia Encounter today to start planning your unforgettable adventure in this enchanting part of Asia.

MORE INSPIRATION:

Nestled in the heart of Ninh Binh Province, the Mua Caves Vietnam often referred to as the "Halong Bay on land," these extraordinary caves offer an unforgettable experience...

If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, you might be wondering Is Vietnam tourist friendly? Well, rest assured that Vietnam is known for its warm and welcoming nature...

How long is a tour in Vietnam? This may be one of the most important questions when planning a journey to Vietnam. From stunning natural landscapes...

The best times in the year to visit Vietnam

Feb 22, 2024 • 5 min read

Pick the right time for your visit to Vietnam with this seasonal guide © golero / Getty Images

Vietnam serves up a generous dose of Southeast Asian magic at any time of year, but some seasons are easier for travelers than others.

A lot depends on what you are looking for from your trip – if it's time on the beach on the central coast, you probably want to stick to the drier months from February to June, before the peak summer crowds arrive; if you're here to go trekking in the highlands, October to March is the optimum season.

It's important to be aware that the weather can vary widely as you travel around Vietnam. The country spans 1650km (1025 miles) from north to south, taking in tall mountains in the north and flat, tropical wetlands in the Mekong Delta . In the north, it can be positively chilly in winter; from December to February, the highlands around Sapa can see snow while the Delta basks at 25°C (77°F).

To help you plan a perfect trip, here's our guide on the best times to visit Vietnam.

July and August are the top months for beach lovers

The hot, sticky high season from July to August is the busiest time of year to visit Vietnam, coinciding with favorable beach weather on the central coast. Demand for flights soars, and prices for accommodations can increase by as much as 50% in resort areas such as Danang and Nha Trang . Book flights and hotels well in advance and expect crowds on the sand at all the popular resorts.

The rest of the country is warm and humid, and sunny days are punctuated by spectacular summer monsoon downpours and even the odd typhoon on the coast. This is a poor time of year for visiting the north, as trekking trails turn into quagmires, and Hanoi and Halong Bay are drenched by heavy showers. On the festival calendar, Trung Nguyen (Wandering Souls Day, also known as Vu Lan) in August sees huge spreads of food left out for the spirits.

December to March is the season to visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)

Winter in Vietnam tends to be drier and cooler than the sticky summer, and the weather can be downright chilly in the north, particularly at higher elevations. However, this is the perfect time to explore Vietnam's characterful northern and southern capitals, with manageable temperatures and low humidity taking the sting out of exploring Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) on foot.

If you want to see more of the country, this is also a great time to head out to the Mekong Delta and the island of Phu Quoc , with warm (not scorching) temperatures and clear skies. As April approaches, however, the mercury starts to climb to uncomfortable levels down south.

Another obstacle to easy travel is the Tet festival – officially, Tet Nguyen Dan – marking the Vietnamese lunar New Year, in late January or early February. The whole country is on the move and prices for transport and hotels shoot skywards. 

In December, the biennial Flower Festival brings fragrant blooms, pageants, wine and music to Dalat , while Buon Ma Thuot's annual coffee festival in March attracts lovers of a good brew. Christmas Day – known in Vietnam as Le Giang Sinh – is a big deal for the Catholic community in Ho Chi Minh City.

Visit from April to June and September to November to avoid the crowds

The low season in Vietnam coincides with the transition from the cool, dry winter to the hot, humid summer and vice versa. From April to June and from September to November, the weather is often unsettled but rarely extreme. You may get days of glorious sunshine, but there will also be days of rain, so pack for both dry and wet weather.

These transition periods are good times to avoid crowds at the sights, save money and explore the whole country, as the weather is not notably awful anywhere. The October to November window is particularly favorable for exploring the islands and outcrops around Halong Bay (and its calmer and less commercial neighbor, Bai Tu Long Bay ), with more dry days than wet days and mild temperatures.

There are some good festivals too. Held in Hue in April, May or June, the biennial Hue Festival fills the city's historic citadel with color, music and lights, while the Nha Trang Sea Festival brings a similar party mood to Nha Trang every second June. Vietnamese Buddhists celebrate the life of the Buddha with extravagant street processions in May for Phat Dan – best experienced in Ninh Binh or Ho Chi Minh City. Pyrotechnics enthusiasts of all kinds gather in Danang in June (or sometimes July) for the explosive Danang Fireworks Festival.

In the pre-winter season, aim to be in Hanoi on September 2, as Vietnam National Day brings energetic rallies and fireworks to Ba Dinh Square and boat races to Hoan Kiem Lake . Tasty festival foods appear everywhere for Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Festival, in September or October, while dragon boats race on the waterways of the Mekong Delta for the Khmer Ok Om Bok Festival in October or November.

Visiting Vietnam during the typhoon season

Technically, the typhoon season in the Northwest Pacific runs from May to November, but in Vietnam, the biggest risk of storms is from August to September. The country sees four to six typhoons in an average year, marked by heavy rain and strong winds. Occasional severe storms lead to flooding and disruption to transport, particularly by air and sea.

The areas most affected by typhoons are the southern coast and the far north coast (including Halong Bay). The weather tends to be most severe near the shore – inland, you may just get heavy rain and the odd power cut. This is a time to be cautious but not paranoid – monitor weather reports and prioritize land-based activities over boat trips, beaches, and diving.

This article was first published June 2021 and updated February 2024

Explore related stories

Mar 14, 2024 • 10 min read

Whether it's bus, train, private car, motorcycle, bike, plane or boat, you can plan your trip around Vietnam with this guide to getting around.

Feb 24, 2024 • 8 min read

Feb 3, 2024 • 7 min read

Jan 27, 2024 • 17 min read

Jan 17, 2024 • 6 min read

Jan 17, 2024 • 8 min read

Jan 5, 2024 • 20 min read

Dec 16, 2023 • 9 min read

Nov 17, 2023 • 5 min read

Nov 16, 2023 • 7 min read

• English Français Español Deutsch Italiano Português
• Plan your trip to Vietnam
• Best time to visit Vietnam

A Travel Guide to Visit Vietnam in October

October is a highly recommended month for your trip to Vietnam with fairly cool weather throughout the country despite the seasonal changes in Central Vietnam. However, there will certainly be many questions appearing before your final decision. We are here for the most accurate and up-to-date answers; being Vietnamese locals, we will share with you our knowledge of Vietnam in October .

1.1. North Vietnam

1.2. mountainous north of vietnam, 1.3. central vietnam, 1.4. south vietnam, 2. travel costs to vietnam and flow of tourists in october, 3.1. places to visit in vietnam in october, 3.2. beaches in vietnam in october, 4. vietnam holidays in october 2024, 5. recommended itineraries for the trip to vietnam in october, 1. all information about climate, weather and temperature of vietnam in october.

October is one of the best months to visit North Vietnam, these are really mild sunny and dry days, with high blue skies. With an average temperature of about 28°C, it is ideal to participate in several outdoor activities such as walking, kayaking, cycling or even swimming without getting too tired. In October, the rice fields in the Red River Delta area are changing color from deep green to golden. Along the way, you can see the different colors of the rice fields.

The climate in the mountains in North Vietnam is very pleasant. At this time, in the Western provinces, the sky is very beautiful and you can enjoy the very beautiful view of the golden terrace rice fields. The weather is also perfect for trekking and cycling.

October is the month that marks the most obvious climate changes in Central Vietnam - from the dry period to the rainy season. This means that it will be changing from some very nice days with pleasant sun to bad ones with alternately heavy rains.

However, if we head southwards to Hoi An and Quy Nhon, the climate is better compared to the provinces to the North of the Hai Van Pass such as Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh.

October is at the end of the rainy season in Vietnam so there are some very good elements for tourism. The frequency and duration of the rains are greatly reduced, but since we are still in the rainy season, the air remains fresh which lowers the strong heat so you can comfortably travel. In addition, after a rainy season, the water level on the rivers is still high; therefore, agricultural activities are very lively.

The outstanding climate in the North and comfortable in the South of Vietnam, along with the more-than-favorable prices in the low period of tourism makes October a fairly good month for traveling to Vietnam. If you are on a beach holiday in Vietnam at the end of October to the beginning of November, when the weather does not vary much, you can save about 5-10% of the price of 4-5 star hotels. It's nice to know, isn't it!

In this period, the number of domestic tourists is lowered, while, according to the report in recent years, there is a growing trend of international tourists visiting Vietnam in October; although, it is not as high as other months in the peak season. So if you want a trip not too touristy, you won’t find yourself surrounded by tourists in the most famous attractions during October. Moreover, given the flow of tourists is not very high, we can save on the costs of international and domestic flights. Then October is definitely not a bad idea.

3. Things to see in Vietnam in October

As expected, although the weather in the Center of Vietnam is not so favorable, the North and South of Vietnam is much more pleasant so we should pay more attention to these regions.

Autumn in the land of the capital has an alluring beauty: street vendors’ bicycles full of flowers in many streets, lively sidewalks carrying a simple but extremely vivid image of urban life. Apart from famous sights such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Cathedral, 36 streets, West Lake, etc. Hanoi is also known for its unique culinary culture; Hanoi's delicious dishes that visitors fall in love with including traditional Pho with beef, Bun Cha-vermicelli with roasted pork, Banh Cuon - steamed rice cakes, Com - premature rice… Don't leave the city without trying some of these specilaties.

Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Many tourists prefer to visit the bays of the Gulf of Tonkin in the summer from May to July because of the opportunities to dive into the clear and warm water, enjoying the sunrise and sunset among the limestone islands and islets. But autumn is also an interesting time to visit this wonder and its attractions, taste its delicious seafood, and participate in various beach activities…

>> See more:  Top-rated Halong Bay Private Cruise - Small Charter Boat 2023

Favored by nature, Ba Be Lake has a cool climate, with a harmony between rivers and mountains and visitors can come here in any season of the year. The autumn days of October are an interesting time to explore Ba Be Lake. During this time, the lake bears a mysterious beauty and is hidden in the fog. Arriving in Ba Be, you can visit many famous places such as Puong Cave, Hua Ma Cave, Dau Dang Waterfall or Fairy Pond.

Mai Chau is one of the most attractive October tourist destinations in the North-Western region. It doesn’t only conquer tourists by its mountainous landscape, but also impresses them with the hospitality and warmth of the people. Coming to Mai Chau in October, you will discover many beautiful destinations such as: Thung Khe Pass, Lac village, Pom Coong village, Kia Cave, Pa Co... and you will be able to take pleasant bike rides through the golden rice fields.

In recent years, Pu Luong has been a very popular destination for travel lovers because of the fascinating and wild landscapes. In Pu Luong, we can admire the tranquility of the houses on stilts between the terraces of rice and water wheels, like a completely opposite world compared to urban life. October is the time when Pu Luong enters the harvesting rice season, all the terraced fields on the hill will turn bright gold. We highly recommend it.

The next northern tourist destination on October's list is Ha Giang. There are many breath-taking photography spots when you get to Ha Giang, such as: Thien Huong village, Quan Ba, Lo Lo ethnic village, Dong Van plateau, Ma Pi Leng pass - “Happiness road”... In the last months of the year such as October, November and December, this is the season of gorgeous buckwheat flowers and mustard flower fields.

• Mu Cang Chai

The period from September to October is the golden season of Mu Cang Chai, which attracts many photographers and tourists to see the “colorful paintings” of the rice terraces. With the gentle autumn sun, the fields are to be seen as a painting of golden rice fields among mountains and forests.

October is the perfect time to visit the Tra Su melaleuca forest, the Cam and the Sam mountains while tasting the Chau Doc cuisine. The Melaleuca Forest is about 30 km from the center of Chau Doc. In the central area, with the rowing boat, you will cruise in silence to enter the "house" of birds and storks. 

Ben Tre is an island in between the four rivers of Tien, Ham Luong, Ba Lai and Co Chien in the southwest of Vietnam. The soil is very soft and fertile, suitable for growing many types of fruit trees, the most famous of which is coconut. Ben Tre is also famous for a system of small canals by means of water palm trees. 

October is the returning month of the tourist season to Mui Ne when the weather is very mild, sunny and cool, very suitable for tourists to plan swimming and visit the tourist attractions of Mui Ne.

If your beach holiday starts at the end of October, then Phu Quoc is a very nice choice with pleasant weather and less rain. There are so many activities you can do in Phu Quoc beyond spending time at the beach, such as visiting the night market, visiting the island or going to the sea and squid-fishing in one of those round boats.

Travelling to Vietnam in October,  you may meet some of the most interesting festivals and holidays held annually.

Donta's Festival (Ancestor’s Day) (An Giang)

The Donta festival is the largest traditional festival of the year for the Khmer people, also known as the ancestor memorial ceremony that takes place from 29/08 to 1/9 of the lunar calendar (from 13 to 15 October 2023). The most important part is the bull run held in the Bay Nui area of An Giang province.

Capital Liberation Day - Hanoi

On October 10, 1954, the People's Army of Vietnam liberated the capital from the ruling of the colonial empires. This event marked a significant turning point in the history of our nation against foreign invaders. Since then, October 10 has been considered the Liberation Day of the Capital to celebrate this glorious victory.

Vietnamese Women's Day - October 20

With the climatic advantages in the North and South of Vietnam, we can certainly take advantage of the time of our trip to these areas

>> Detailed itinerary: Explore Mekong and Red River Delta | Vietnam Classic Tour - 10 Days

Certainly, we can include a few days at sea in the program. In this case, we recommend Phu Quoc or Mui Ne. To go to Phu Quoc, we can combine with the Mekong Delta and Can Tho tour, then, take a flight or speed boat to Phu Quoc. On the other hand, we can safely depart from Saigon by bus or private car to go to Mui Ne.

>> See details:  Mekong & Phu Quoc Beach | Most popular package - 08 Days

If you want to use all your travel time dedicated to just one area, the North is an ideal place for you with many options and routes to combine. Here, we will give you the opportunity to see a selection of itineraries for the North that includes all the most beautiful provinces/cities: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa - Bac Ha, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Ba Be, Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay

>> See suggestions: Northern Vietnam Itineraries

With our sharing of the climate, tourist situation along with the best itineraries of Vietnam in October , we hope that you will choose a program that best suits your desire. You can also contact us to have personalized programs, privately for you.

Write Comment

02 Comments

• Deborah Semeraro Switzerland

• Kayla Le Vietnam

Bonjour Deborah, en octobre, les rizières sont magnifiquement jaunes à Ninh Binh, Pu Puong, Mai Chau, Mu Cang Chai. Ninh Binh étant très fréquentée, nous avons l'habitude de proposer aux voyageurs Mai Chau et Pu Luong, qui est une destination plus authentique. En ce qui concerne la météo, il n'est pas idéal de visiter le centre du Vietnam (où se trouvent Hoi An et Da Nang) en octobre, car les précipitations sont abondantes. Si vous souhaitez inscrire Da Nang et Hoi An à votre itinéraire, prévoyez des activités alternatives au cas où vous ne pourriez pas participer à des activités de plein air. Si vous avez besoin d'un circuit privé adapté à vos souhaits, n'hésitez pas à nous envoyer une demande à [email protected]. Meilleures

Write Reply

Other articles

• Getting to Vietnam
• Visa Requirement to Vietnam
• Getting Around Vietnam
• Health & Safety in Vietnam
• Top thing to do in Vietnam
• Trip Ideas to Vietnam
• Getting to Laos
• Best time to visit Laos
• Visa Requirement to Laos
• Getting Around Laos
• Health & Safety in Laos
• Top thing to do in Laos
• Trip Ideas to Laos
• Getting to Cambodia
• Best time to visit Cambodia
• Visa Requirement to Cambodia
• Getting Around Cambodia
• Health & Safety in Cambodia
• Top thing to do in Cambodia
• Trip Ideas to Cambodia
• Dien Bien Phu
• Buon Ma Thuot
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
• Ha Tien town
• Con Dao Island
• Phu Quoc island
• Nam Nerm Safari
• Bolikhamsai
• Xieng Khuang
• Luang Prabang
• Kampong Thom
• Kompong Cham
• Sihanoukville
• Koh Rong Saloem
• SMS/call/WhatsApp +84 382 536 266
• Email [email protected]
• Skype ID: Mr.Hung

The largest Selection of Private Tour Itineraries, Cruises & Visa in Vietnam.

• Room 506, 5th floor, 62 Yen Phu road, Nguyen Trung Truc ward, Ba Dinh district, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
• +84 382 536 266 (Whatsapp)
• [email protected]
• www.izitour.com
• Recruitment
• Before the trips
• Legal license
• Privacy policy & Cookies
• Terms & Conditions

Destinations

Subscribe to our newsletter.

• TRAVELERS' CHOICE 2023 sitemap.html

HOT DESTINATIONS IN INDOCHINA

• INDOCHINA TOURS
• Top 10 Indochina Tour
• Vietnam & Cambodia
• Vietnam & Laos
• Vietnam & Myanmar
• Vietnam & Thailand
• Cambodia & Laos
• Cambodia & Myanmar
• Cambodia & Thailand
• Thailand & Laos
• Thailand & Myanmar
• Laos & Myanmar
• Vietnam Cambodia & Laos
• Vietnam Cambodia & Thailand
• Vietnam Cambodia & Myanmar
• Cambodia Laos & Thailand
• Vietnam Laos & Myanmar
• Thailand Vietnam & Laos
• Thailand Cambodia & Myanmar
• Thailand Laos & Myanmar
• Vietnam, Laos,Cambodia & Thailand
• Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos & Myanmar
• Thailand, Cambodia, Laos & Myanmar
• Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam & Myanmar
• SMALL GROUP TOURS
• 4-Day Classic Laos From $390
• 4-Day Classic Cambodia From $490
• 6-Day Classic Cambodia From $722
• 8-Day Classic Thailand From $1380
• 9-Day Classic Vietnam From $1080
• 9-Day Classic Myanmar From $1123
• 12-Day Vietnam & Cambodia From $1280
• 12-Day Thailand & Cambodia From $1820
• 15-Day Classic Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos From $1680
• VIETNAM TOURS
• Top 10 Vietnam Tours
• 7-Day Glance of Vietnam Tour
• 7-Day Vietnam Honeymoon Tour
• 8-Day Vietnam Family Tour
• 10-Day Vietnam Highlights
• 12 Days Essential Vietnam Tour
• Vietnam Food Tour
• Vietnam Bike/Motorbike Tour
• Vietnam Trekking Tour
• Vietnam Luxury Tour
• Vietnam Tour from USA
• Halong Bay Cruise
• Mekong River Cruise
• Vietnam Travel Guide
• CAMBODIA TOURS
• Top 10 Cambodia Tour
• 4 Days Classic Cambodia
• 4-Day Family with Horse Riding
• 4-Day Family with Easy Biking
• 6-Day Best of Cambodia
• 8-Day Cambodia Signature Tour
• Cambodia Luxury Tour
• Cambodia Cycling Tour
• Cambodia Tours from Malaysia
• Cambodia Tours from India
• Siem Reap Tours
• Cambodia Travel Guide
• 4-Day Classic Luang Prabang Tour
• 4-Day Luang Say Cruise
• 5-Day Luang Prabang Family Tour
• 6-Day Vientiane & Luang Prabang
• 9-Day Laos Discovery Tour
• Laos Travel Guide
• MYANMAR TOURS
• 4-Day Bagan Exploration Tour
• 5-Day Essence of Mandalay Tour
• 10-Day Myanmar Family Tour
• 14-Day In-depth Myanmar Photography Tour
• 14-Day Myanmar Trekking Tour with Beach Relax
• Myanmar Travel Guide
• THAILAND TOURS
• 6-Day Thailand Golden Triangle
• 7-Day Bangkok and Chiang Mai Discovery
• 10-Day Leisure Tour to Koh Samui
• 12-Day Thailand Historical Tour
• 16 Days In-depth Thailand Tour with Phuket
• Thailand Travel Guide
• Get Tour Quote

About Us Contact Us

Speak to Our Experts: [email protected]

Call Us at: +855 88 297 6207

When Is the Best Time to Visit North Vietnam?

Planning a trip to North Vietnam's stunning landscapes? Well, choosing the best time of year is key for experiencing the region's beauty.

Whether you seek pleasant temperatures, few rains, or fewer crowds, understanding when the best time to visit Northern Vietnam is will ensure you experience it at its finest!

Where Is Northern Vietnam? The Most Iconic Tourist Destinations of North Vietnam

Northern Vietnam is the region of Vietnam that lies north of the 17th parallel, which roughly corresponds to the Red River Delta and the mountainous areas bordering China and Laos. Northern Vietnam is known for its diverse and stunning landscapes, rich and varied culture, and historical and political significance.

It is also home to some of the most iconic and popular tourist destinations in the country, such as:

● Hanoi: The capital and the largest city of Vietnam, Hanoi is a charming metropolis that combines the old and the new, the east and the west, and the traditional and the modern. Hanoi offers a wealth of attractions, such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, the French Quarter, and many museums, pagodas, and parks. All the attractions rank the best experience among top things to do in Hanoi . ● Halong Bay: One of the most famous and beautiful natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features thousands of limestone islands and islets rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Halong Bay is a paradise for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and photographers, as it offers spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife, and numerous activities, such as cruising, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and caving. We recommend you to have a luxury Halong Bay Cruise to explore this gem. ● Sapa: A picturesque town in the northwest of Vietnam, Sapa is a popular destination for trekking, homestay, and cultural immersion. Sapa is surrounded by majestic mountains, lush valleys, and terraced rice fields, creating a breathtaking backdrop for any adventure. It's worthy to take a Vietnam Sapa trekking tour . What's a unparalleled journey! ● Ha Giang: A remote and rugged province in the far north of Vietnam, Ha Giang is a hidden gem that attracts adventurous and intrepid travelers. Ha Giang is famous for its Dong Van Karst Plateau, a UNESCO Global Geopark that showcases the geological diversity and beauty of the region. Some of the highlights of Ha Giang are the Ma Pi Leng Pass, the Lung Cu Flag Tower, the Quan Ba Heaven Gate, and the Du Gia Waterfall. Come to enjoy a lifelong memorable Vietnamese motorbike tour in the Northern Vietnam city.

7 Days Northern Vietnam Historical & Natural Tour Package

The general climate features of north vietnam.

North Vietnam has a climate that varies significantly between seasons and regions. Here are the main features of the climate of North Vietnam:

● Four distinct seasons: spring (February to April), summer (May to August), autumn (September to November), and winter (December to January). ● Temperature: The average annual temperature ranges from 15°C to 25°C , with the lowest temperatures in January and the highest temperatures in July. The temperature also decreases with altitude and latitude, making the mountainous areas cooler than the lowlands. ● Rainfall: The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,200 mm to 3,000 mm , with the wettest months from May to October and the driest months from November to April. The rainfall also varies with topography and wind direction, making the eastern and northern parts of the region wetter than the western and southern parts. ● Humidity: The average annual humidity ranges from 75% to 85% , with the highest humidity in July and the lowest humidity in January. The humidity also increases with rainfall and decreases with temperature. ● Wind: The dominant wind direction is from the northeast in winter and from the southwest in summer. The wind speed also changes with season and location, making the coastal and highland areas windier than the inland and lowland areas.

The Best Time to Visit North Vietnam: from October to April

The most favorable timespan for travel in North Vietnam falls between the months of October through April . During this period, the northeast monsoon maintains a dry climate and moderate temperatures that are very comfortable for outdoor sightseeing and activities.

Daily highs remain at a pleasant  20-25°C  without excessive humidity. Nights are on the fresh side, dipping to around  15°C . The lack of heavy rainfall ensures attractions like Halong Bay, caves, and hiking trails can be fully enjoyed without disruptions.

It's also prior to the domestic tourism high season when crowds and hotel rates surge. You'll encounter fewer fellow travelers, making for a more peaceful experience soaking up the natural wonders and cultural destinations.

The Most Comfortable Months for Visiting North Vietnam: March, April, Sept, Oct, and November

For travelers seeking the utmost comfort and enjoyment during their visit to North Vietnam, the months of March, April, September, October, and November stand out as the prime window.

These months, which fall between the transitions of seasons, offer a harmonious blend of pleasant temperatures, minimal rainfall, and a myriad of cultural festivities.

● March and April see slightly warming daytime temperatures ranging from 20-25°C . However, humidity remains low, and rainfall is rare. The landscapes and attractions are beautifully green from recent showers. With few typhoons at this time, it makes for comfortable sightseeing. ● September and October kick off the dry season as the monsoon ends. Mornings and evenings are pretty mild, around 18°C , while afternoons reach highs near 23°C . The countryside appears lush and vibrant during post-rain harvesting. There is also little chance of typhoons at this point in the season. ● November maintains average highs of 21°C and lows of 15°C with hardly any precipitation. The scenery takes on gorgeous autumnal hues. Fewer tourists are present as the year winds down, providing calm exploration of places like Halong Bay.

These optimal months showcase North Vietnam's beauty without extremes of heat or wet weather. Festivals like Mid-Autumn and national holidays occur, allowing participation in cultural traditions.

8 Days Northern Vietnam Trekking Adventure

May to august are hot and humid in north vietnam, better to avoid.

While North Vietnam sees generally milder weather than central and southern areas year-round, the months of May through August fall squarely within the hot and rainy season.

Persistent high temperatures averaging 28-32°C combine with oppressive humidity levels over 80% to create unpleasant conditions. Torrential downpours are frequent, transforming rural roads into mud paths at times.

Many tourist destinations and natural areas are less accessible or appealing. Locals seek refuge from the scorching heat indoors as much as possible. Hotel rates also tend to be higher along famous coasts like Halong Bay during the busy summer period.

Overall, the worrying combination of heat stress, disruption from rain, and larger crowds make this a season best avoided by travelers wishing to maximize comfort and enjoyment in North Vietnam.

The Monthly Climate Features of North Vietnam

Northern Vietnam's climate varies greatly each month. Knowing what to expect weather-wise is crucial to fully take in the cultural experiences and stunning scenery it offers.

14 Days Highlights of Vietnam from North to South

It is essential to understand Northern Vietnam's monthly climate patterns in order to plan the most enjoyable and comfortable trip possible. And for a seamless trip without disruption from the elements—it is best to hire a local tourist agency like IndoChinaTour.

Whether you visit during the dry months or rainy season, our services and insights will help you make the most of your time in this fascinating part of Vietnam. For more details, reach out to our friendly team . We would be more than happy to help you with a travel plan!

More Related Travel Planning Articles

Most Popular Vietnam Tour Packages

Hanoi – Sapa - Halong Bay - Ninh Binh - Hanoi

Start in Hanoi, a city rich in history and culture. Explore the beautiful Sapa rice fields, the peaceful countryside of Ninh ...

View Details

Hanoi - Thac Ba Lake - Vu Linh - Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi - Ha Giang - Dong Van - Meo Vac Town - Bao Lac - Ba Be Lake - Hanoi

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime as you embark on an exhilarating motorbike tour that will take you through some ...

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Y Linh Ho - Sapa - Su Pan - Giang Ta Chai - Ta Van - Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi - Phu Quoc Island - Ho Chi Minh City

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the captivating landscapes and vibrant culture of Vietnam with our meticulousl ...

Hanoi - Cao Phong - Pu Luong - Cuc Phuong - Ninh Binh - Hanoi

This itinerary is perfect for those looking to explore Northern Vietnam's natural beauty and rich culture. Experience the ...

Have a Question? Ask below or email us at [email protected]

Question Summary:

Details about your question:

Please fill in your contact information, we will send you the answer by email

Country * :

SUBMIT Cancel

All of the tours can be tailored for you. We consult your preferences to determine precisely how to build your dream travel.

Your safety comes first. Accompanied by licensed guides and experienced drivers, you can contact us with emergency calls during tours.

Providing afternoon snacks & unlimited cold filtered water during tours, and we are here to ensure your trip is pleasant and comfortable.

Our prices are upfront and in detail. This way, you can choose exactly what you need and remove what you are not interested in.

+855 88 297 6207

[email protected]

• TOUR CATEGORIES Top 10 Indochina Tours Top 10 Vietnam Tours Top 10 Cambodia Tours Vietnam Cambodia Tours Vietnam Laos Tours Cambodia Myanmar Tours Mekong River Cruise Halong Bay Cruise
• TOP DESTINATIONS Vietnam Tours Cambodia Tours Thailand Tours Laos Tours Myanmar Tours China Tours Indochina Tours
• ABOUT US Meet Our Teams Why Book with Us Payment Guide Our Travel Blog Contact Us

• Cambodia: No.D21-23, Borey Angkor Palace, Siem Reap
• Vietnam: Level 3, 71-73 Hoang Cau Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi
• Laos: Ban Saylom, Unit 8, Luang Prabang
• Thailand: Suite no 677, ITF Silom Palace, 160 Soi Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra 1, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok
• Myanmar: 7B2, B block 7th Floor, Yankin Center, Yankin Tsp, Yangon

Copyright © 2024 Indochinatour.com — Private & Luxury journeys in Indochina!

The Best Time To Go To Vietnam (North vs Central vs South)

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Home » The Best Time To Go To Vietnam (North vs Central vs South)

If you want to go visit one of the most economical yet beautiful tropical nations on the planet, Vietnam should be on the top of the list!

The first question that comes into anyone’s mind when they think about visiting a new country like that, however, is: when is the best time to visit Vietnam?

If you do intend to go, you should visit while keeping in mind the best times to visit Vietnam.

While it happens to be a country you can visit all year round, the best time to travel to Vietnam varies still based on what it is you want to do and which areas you wish to visit.

There are tons of things to do around: delectable street food, mesmerizing colorful festivals, and so much more!

Best Time to Visit Vietnam

Before you create your perfect itinerary for Vietnam, make sure to take notes on the important information listed below.

Choosing the best time to visit Vietnam will depend on the weather and the fact that the weather can be very different depending on the location.

That is why we have broken down the best times to visit Vietnam into three sections; North Vietnam, Central Vietnam and South Vietnam.

Best Time to Visit North Vietnam

Best time to visit Northern Vietnam is in spring (March to April) and in autumn (September to October). During these months the weather is generally warm, sunny and not too humid.

If you choose to go to North Vietnam in the winter months, you can expect cold and dry weather, with night temperature dropping to only a few degrees Celsius above 0ºC. Alternatively, in the summer months, you will find somewhat unbearable heat and humidity.

Now that you know when to go, lets check out two of our favorite destinations in the North Vietnam, the amazing Hanoi and Halong Bay:

Best Time to Visit Hanoi

Hanoi is the largest city in Vietnam and by far the most interesting – there’s lots and lots of stuff you can do here!

You can visit the lake, see the various kinds of temples around the place, the Mausoleum built in the memory of Ho Chi Minh, and there’s a lot of other things happening too.

This city boasts one of the best nightlives among the neighboring areas.

Winter is generally decent enough (equivalent to a European spring/summer climate), but the summers are generally quite hot.

The best time to visit Hanoi still remains October and November, with little rain, good sunshine and average temperatures of around 21 degrees C.

If Hanoi is your key destination, this should answer your queries on when to visit Vietnam.

Best Time to Visit Halong Bay

This mystical place is covered with mist most of the year and remains an enjoyable holiday retreat. March is the best month to visit Vietnam if you want to see Halong Bay in all its glory.

The water generally remains blue and clear at this point, in stark contrast to the misty bay region.

March is the beginning of spring, so temperatures are very comfortable and the skies are absolutely clear with little to no rain.

Visit Vietnam in March to enjoy this breathtaking (quite literally) natural wonder!

Although March is the best choice for when to visit Halong Bay, both spring and autumn months offer good conditions for exploring this amazing place.

If you choose to see Halong Bay in winter, be prepared for cold weather and high winds. Alternatively, should you plan to visit in summer months, you can expenct to check out what rainy typhoon season is all about.

You can check out how to explore the Halong bay in style on a Halong Bay best cruise here.

Best Time to Visit Central Vietnam

Best time to visit Central Vietnam is between the months of February and November, with warmer weather in July and August.

It is very hard to predict correctly the rainy weather in this part of the country, however, you can expect the typhoon season to start in November and clear up by February.

Find out more about the Vietnamese best beaches in Central Vietnam here:

Best Time to Visit Vietnamese Beaches

It’s a little known fact that Vietnam has some of the most unexplored yet beautiful beaches in the world.

Depending on when you intend to visit, however, there are beaches for every season.

The central parts of Vietnam beaches are warm all year round, while the southern coastline tends to have a warm temperate climate if you’re visiting around January or February.

Our personal favorites are the beaches around Hoi An. You can visit those quite comfortably even towards the end of the warm and non-typhoon season in the months of August and September.

Best Time to Visit South Vietnam

Best time to visit Southern Vietnam can be quite debatable. Generally speaking, South Vietnam is good for travel all year around.

There are, however, two distinct seasons that you must take into consideration when visiting these parts.

• The dry season is between the months of December and May, with the highest temperature from March to May. Great time for warm weather, however, might get a bit unbearable at times.
• The wet season (monsoon season) goes between June till November. Sporadic bursts of heavy rain, the however best time to visit South Vietnam for photography enthusiasts.

Best Time to Visit Saigon

Another absolutely brilliant city in Vietnam – this one is warm all through the year, but in contrast to Hanoi which has centuries’ worth of history to showcase, Saigon represents a new culture and points to the Vietnam of the future.

There is, however, a lot to see from the Vietnam War showcases which highlight the trials and tribulations of that time.

Right from some wonderfully made 19th-century French cathedrals and buildings to the Independence Palace in the middle of the city – there are enough things to keep you engaged, regardless of whenever you visit.

Here are some frequently asked questions about what to see and do in Vietnam:

1. Which destinations are most popular in Vietnam?

There are many beautiful destinations to visit in Vietnam.

Some of the most famous include HCMC (from which you can enjoy day trips to the Mekong Delta and Chu Chi Tunnels), Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue & Nha Trang.

Click here to read more about everything you should read up on before your trip to Vietnam .

2. What are the best things to do in Vietnam? 

Now that you know what the best time of the year to visit Vietnam is, you’re probably wondering about what it is you actually do there once you’re there.

This country has a number of cities and destinations on offer, regardless of the time you visit there.

You can also find a list of some fun things to do in Vietnam here.

Whether it’s the misty Halong Bay, the sprawling metropolises of Hanoi or Saigon, or the mystical Sapa mountains, Vietnam has a number of places you should visit.

Hopefully, you’ve found some useful information about the best things to do here above so you can make good use of the best time to travel to Vietnam!

3. Where should I stay in Vietnam? 

You need to be careful when you book accommodation in Vietnam .

Ensure that the accommodation has plenty of reviews and that there are both positive and negative reviews, but obviously, we want the majority of the reviews to be positive.

To help you find the best places to stay in Vietnam, we have compiled a few handy guides for you:

• Here is a guide on the best Halong Bay cruise to book
• Here is a guide on some of the best Hanoi hotels to book
• This guide is all about our favorite resorts and hotels in Hoi An

Verdict on the Best Time to Visit Vietnam?

Generally, the best time of the year to go to Vietnam is around the months of February to April, which is the spring season, as well as August to October, which is the time of autumn.

As for the best month to visit Vietnam, it is up to you to choose among these months which we’ve listed out above, though we believe the best time to go to Vietnam is in March.

By now you’re definitely wondering about why we chose those particular months as the best time of the year to visit here.

The reason behind our observations is that the weather becomes moderate around that time, so it’s not as hot as it can usually get in the summers.

Vietnam also gets a lot of rain generally, which is more or less occasional at this time.

While we mentioned only a few important things about Vietnam and the best time to visit it, there is of course much more to see and do.

Whenever you do visit, make sure you to enjoy the street food (Hanoi and Saigon are lined with food stalls on the streets) and don’t forget to see the natural gifts bestowed to Vietnam.

Have fun visiting Vietnam!

Further Reading

You can find more travel posts and article for other destinations here .

Check out what to pack for your vacation in Vietnam here .

Andrzej Ejmont

2 thoughts on “the best time to go to vietnam (north vs central vs south)”.

Now is the best time to visit Vietnam, I have planned my trip but COVID – 19 has made it impossible for me to make my trip. The article is very detailed and informative that I need. Thank You

Thank you 🙂 Glad that you liked the article. We sincerely hope that everything travel wise will come babk to normal soon. All best for future travels.

Comments are closed.

2024 - Wanderlust Storytellers. All Rights Reserved.

About Us  |  Contact Us  | Work with Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

* Disclaimer: Wanderluststorytellers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and other Amazon sites.

Vietnam in October - Weather & Best places to visit

Here are 4 reasons why you should consider traveling to vietnam in october.

• Pleasant weather: October is one of the best months to visit Vietnam because the weather is cooler and less humid, especially in the north.
• Beautiful landscapes: October is the start of the autumn season in Vietnam, which means you can see stunning fall foliage in the mountainous regions of the country.
• Cultural festivals: October is a month of celebration in Vietnam, with several festivals taking place across the country, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Ok Om Bok Festival.
• Fewer crowds: Since October is not the peak travel season in Vietnam, you can enjoy popular tourist destinations without the crowds and with better prices on accommodations and activities.

A quick overview

Vietnam weather in october.

October is generally a favorable month to visit Vietnam, as the weather becomes more pleasant and the rainy season subsides in many regions. You can expect mild temperatures and a mix of sunny days and occasional showers. However, it’s important to note the variations in weather patterns between northern, central, and southern Vietnam.

In  northern Vietnam , including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Sapa, October brings cooler temperatures and lower humidity. Average temperatures range from 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 82°F). The region experiences occasional showers, but overall rainfall decreases compared to previous months. It is a great time to explore the cultural landmarks of Hanoi, take a cruise in the stunning Ha Long Bay, and trek through the picturesque landscapes of Sapa.

In October,  Central Vietnam , including cities like Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue, experiences a high amount of rainfall and an increased risk of typhoons and flooding. The region is transitioning from the summer season to the cooler winter months, resulting in unstable weather conditions. You should be prepared for heavy rainfall and potential disruptions to outdoor activities during this time. Average temperatures in central Vietnam range from 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F).

Southern Vietnam , including Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc Island, experiences a transition from the rainy season to the dry season in October. Average temperatures range from 24°C to 31°C (75°F to 88°F). The region sees a decrease in rainfall and an increase in sunny days. It is a good time to explore the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh, embark on boat tours in the Mekong Delta, and relax on the beautiful beaches of Phu Quoc Island.

Events in October in Vietnam

October is a great time to visit Vietnam as the weather is mild and there are many cultural and religious events taking place. Here are some of the top events in October in Vietnam:

• Mid-Autumn Festival: Also known as the Mooncake Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (which usually falls in October). It is a time for family reunions and the streets are filled with colorful lanterns.
• Hoi An Full Moon Festival: The ancient town of Hoi An celebrates the full moon with a festival that includes music, dance, and colorful lanterns.
• Hue Festival: Held every two years in the former imperial capital of Hue, this festival showcases traditional music, dance, and food.
• Perfume Pagoda Festival: Located in Hanoi, the Perfume Pagoda Festival takes place on the 15th day of the second lunar month (which usually falls in October). It is one of the most important Buddhist festivals in Vietnam and attracts thousands of pilgrims.
• Nha Trang Sea Festival: This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of Nha Trang, a coastal city in central Vietnam. It includes music, dance, and water sports.

These are just a few of the many events taking place in Vietnam in October.

Best places to visit in Vietnam in October

October is a great month to visit Vietnam as it marks the beginning of the dry season in most parts of the country, and the weather is generally mild and pleasant. Here are some of the best places to visit in Vietnam in October:

• Hanoi: The capital city of Vietnam offers a mix of cultural and historical experiences, and the cooler weather in October makes it a great time to explore the city’s many attractions such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, or the Old Quarter.
• Halong Bay: October is an ideal month to visit Halong Bay as the clear and sunny weather allows for stunning views of the bay’s limestone karsts and caves. You can also enjoy activities such as kayaking, swimming, and hiking.
• Sapa: Sapa is a mountainous region in the north of Vietnam known for its stunning rice terraces and ethnic minority villages. In October, the rice terraces are at their most beautiful and colorful, making it a great time for trekking and photography.
• Hue: This former imperial capital in central Vietnam offers a wealth of cultural and historical attractions such as the Citadel, the Tombs of the Emperors, and the Perfume River. In October, the weather is mild and pleasant, making it a great time to explore the city and enjoy its traditional cuisine.
• Hoi An: This charming ancient town in central Vietnam is particularly magical in October when it is adorned with colorful lanterns. The cool weather also makes it a great time to explore the town’s picturesque streets and enjoy local cuisine.
• Phu Quoc Island: Located in the south of Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island offers white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful coral reefs. October is the perfect time to visit as the weather is sunny and dry.

These are just a few of the many great places to visit in Vietnam in October. No matter where you go, be sure to check the weather forecast and pack accordingly.

Tips for traveling in October

• Enjoy cruising through the mesmerizing limestone karsts of Halong Bay with fewer tourists during this month.
• Immerse yourself in the cultural heritage of Hoi An, with its well-preserved architecture and captivating lantern-lit streets.
• Pack lightweight and breathable clothing, as well as insect repellent, for outdoor activities in destinations like Nha Trang and Phan Thiet.

October per destination

• Mui Ne in October
• Da Nang in October
• Nha Trang in October
• Dalat in October
• South Vietnam in October
• Central Vietnam in October
• North Vietnam in October
• Mai Chau in October
• Con Dao in October
• Phu Quoc in October
• Ho Chi Minh City in October
• Ban Gioc Waterfall in October
• Ha Giang in October
• Ninh Binh in October
• Hoi An in October
• Halong Bay in October
• Sapa in October
• Hanoi in October

FAQ about traveling in October

Is the weather in october good for traveling in vietnam.

October is generally a good time to travel to Vietnam. The weather is cooler and drier in the north, with temperatures ranging from 20-27°C (68-81°F). In central Vietnam, the weather is also cooler and drier, with temperatures ranging from 22-30°C (72-86°F). The south can still be warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25-32°C (77-90°F), but it is not as rainy as in previous months.

How busy are the tourist areas during October in Vietnam?

October is a popular month to travel to Vietnam, especially in the first half of the month. The peak tourist season is just beginning, and many travelers prefer to visit Vietnam in October to take advantage of the pleasant weather and avoid the crowds that come with the high season. However, the level of tourism activity can vary depending on the region of Vietnam you are visiting. Some areas, such as Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An, can be quite busy, while others, such as Sapa or Phu Quoc, may have fewer visitors.

• Destination Guide
• Essential Guide
• Getting Around
• Vietnam Month by Month
• Inspiration
• Vietnam blog
• Travel tips
• Custom Made Trip
• Day- & Multiple Day tours
• Holiday Packages
• Local Meo Vac Homestay
• Local Dong Van Homestay
• Our Team & Company
• Our Customers & Reviews

Copyright © 2023 Local Vietnam

Start typing and press enter to search

Free ebook vietnam travel guide​.

When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam: Month by Month Guide

Vietnam is an incredible country to visit all year round, however due to its size and shape, the weather in Vietnam couldn’t be any more different between the North, Center and South of Vietnam – from the Northern Highlands to the hot, tropical like South. When you decide to go will really depend on the type of trip you want to have and what you want to experience. To help you decide when would be the best time of year to go to Vietnam for you, we’ve outlined below the different seasons you can expect, if there’s an overall best time to go to capture the best of both worlds as well as the weather by month and what kind of activities are possible in each.

Table of contents:

Is there an overall best time to visit Vietnam?

Climate of vietnam.

• When is monsoon season in Vietnam?
• Best time to visit North Vietnam
• Best time to visit Central Vietnam
• Best time to visit South Vietnam
• Vietnam seasons
• Vietnam weather by month

Many say that the best time to visit Vietnam is between November and early April, with the weather in Vietnam and temperatures in both the North and the South being perfect for trekking and adventures. The temperatures are cooler at this time of year, but they’re also very doable if you’re used to alpine or slightly colder conditions, even in the mountains however you are likely to get cloudy days. In central Vietnam, such as Hue and Hoi An the rains have calmed and a second high season is beginning. Whether November to early April is the best time to visit Vietnam really depends on what it is you have in mind for your trip. If you are planning to try and explore as much of the country as possible and want the best weather possible to enjoy, then November to early April is possibly the best time to go to Vietnam. It’s also worth noting that depending on the calendar for the year, Tet, the Vietnamese New Year celebrations happen either at the end of January or into February. If you plan to travel around that time, be sure to book your flights and hotel as soon as possible as many places become booked up very quickly and raise prices. It’s also important to keep in mind that because it’s a country wide, family celebration, many restaurants will close around the week of the celebrations. We’d recommend doing some research to see when Tet falls if this is the time period you’re looking to travel in. However, travelling around Tet can be magical and the best time of year to visit Vietnam if you’re looking for a truly authentic experience!

Many people ask what is the climate of Vietnam, but it can’t be answered simply – due to its size, there isn’t one specific climate in Vietnam, with different areas of the country experiencing highly contrasting weather throughout the year. You can get cold days in the Northern mountains and hotter than hot days in the South, so it’s worth thoroughly considering when to visit Vietnam in terms of the kind of weather you want to experience. However, a trip to Vietnam is about much more than weather alone as there is so much to experience. But with that said, when rainy and monsoon season in Vietnam hits, it can really curtail a lot of adventure based plans, so always plan ahead! It’s entirely individual, and the worst time to visit Vietnam for you might be the best for someone else – that is what is truly wonderful about Vietnam.

When is Monsoon Season in Vietnam?

Monsoon season in Vietnam is between June, July and August in the North and South of Vietnam and between September, October and early November in central areas where rainy season in Vietnam typically eases by late mid to late November.

Related content: From the best things to do in Tunisia , to hikes in Sedona, Arizona , we’ve got you covered with our destination guides including itineraries, hikes and so much more.

Best time to visit North Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Ba Bae National Park)

The best time to visit North Vietnam and places such as Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay (Halong Bay’s much quieter neighbor) and Ba Bae National Park is between the months of October to April. Whilst October may still be a little unsettled, and you may still experience some rain, you can expect to see incredible colors in the landscape. You’ll also see an abundance of produce being harvested, such as rice so it’s a great time to be in the countryside. November is also a great month to visit Halong bay and neighboring, much quieter Bai Tu Long Bay as you’re more likely to get clear skies. From December, the temperatures have cooled slightly, so from December on, you will more likely see cloudy days, though there is still the chance of sunshine. October until April is when adventures in the North really come alive – trekking and hiking in the North, the Highlands and around Ba Bae National Park is truly magical. Hanoi one of the best cities in Vietnam to visit at this time of year also, with humidity at a much lower level making exploring the city a much more pleasant experience.

Best time to visit Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Hue, beaches etc)

Between February and May and November to December are great times to visit Central Vietnam. Between February and May, the temperatures are perfect for visiting the coastal areas such as Hoi An and Hue. Whilst they can become extremely hot, they are also doable. November and December are also great times to visit, but we’d advise the latter half of November would be a safer bet, depending on when the storms and rainy season end. At these times of year, you can expect some cloudy days, but mostly sunny with the odd shower. The perfect time to visit central Vietnam is April, however this is a very popular time to visit so prices can creep up very quickly. If you’re planning to visit around this time, we’d recommend booking in as much advance as possible.

Best time to visit South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta)

The south experiences some of the best weather in Vietnam and the best time to visit the South of Vietnam is between December and March. This is when the weather is more settled, not as hot or as humid. This time of year also makes for a much more enjoyable experience checking out Ho Chi Minh City and everything on offer in the south such as Mekong Delta and the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is just 40km outside of Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam Seasons

High season: july, august.

• Best time for relaxing on the beach in central Vietnam
• Book well in advance, very popular
• The South is hot, and the north has monsoons

Shoulder Season: December, January, February, March, April

• Best overall time to visit Vietnam due to calmed climate which is suitable in most places
• Best time for checking out Hanoi and the North, such as Ba Bae National Park, Cao Bang, Highlands, Sapa
• Best time for adventures, trekking and backpacking
• Drier and colder, but warm and pleasant with less chance of rain
• One of the best seasons in Vietnam for visiting as much of the country as possible
• During Tet, the Vietnamese New Year festival, either in late January or early February depending on the calendar that year, a lot of things can be closed, and prices do get higher in hotels
• Weather is great in April, maybe even one of the best months to visit Vietnam

Low season: May, June and September, October and November

• The start of Monsoon season in the South and rainy season and storms in the North
• If visiting at this time, it’s better to focus on visiting cities and central Vietnam
• October and November are great for checking out the harvest and floating markets along the Mekong Delta
• Checking out Halong Bay in November is great because you’re likely to get clear skies
• Much quieter with less tourists

Vietnam Weather by Month

January in vietnam.

• Mostly dry season across the country
• Cold in the North
• Shops and Restaurants close for Tet

In January, it is generally dry in the North and South of Vietnam, but it’s important to remember that in the South it is still the end of rainy season, so you can expect some inclement weather. If you’re planning to visit the North and visit Halong Bay you can expect it to be colder, but it is none the less a really nice time to visit. It’s about 50/50 in January as to whether you’ll get a cloudy or sunny day for your visit, but it is spectacular at any time and even the cloudier days give the interesting rock sculptures you’ll see a beautiful feel. Hanoi is also a great place to visit in January as the slightly cooler, dryer temperatures make taking in the city and exploring a much nicer activity. You also have Dalat flower festival to look forward to in January too. If you’re looking for a quieter experience in the countryside and in nature, travelling to the far North of Vietnam to around Ba Bae National Park and Cao Bang is a great thing to do at this time of year. At higher elevations, you’re likely to experience colder temperatures, but January is a great time for adventures such as trekking, cycling and backpacking. It’s worth keeping in mind that depending on when Tet (the Vietnamese New Year celebration) falls, January can be a very busy time in the hotels all over Vietnam, with some of them even closing. So if you plan to travel as this time of year, you should look to book in as much advance as you can.

February in Vietnam

• Warmer temperatures in most areas of the country
• Great month for partaking in for adventure sports, hiking, canoeing etc.
• Beach resorts become busier due to increased temperatures

February is a great month for visiting Vietnam as the warmer more stable climate allows you to visit much more of Vietnam. If you’re planning to travel from North to South Vietnam, or vice versa, February is a great month to look at. It’s a great month for outdoors activities across the whole of Vietnam, particularly in the North and in the Highlands where you’ll find the temperatures mild but not too hot or too cold. The coast and central Vietnam are becoming busier at this time too. If Tet (the Vietnamese New Year festival) falls in February, it’s worth noting that hotels can get very busy, and because this is a popular month anyway, can be even busier than if Tet lands in January. It’s worth looking at when Tet falls on the particular year you’re looking to visit and planning accordingly. February can also be the best time to visit Vietnam and Cambodia on the same trip, due to the warmer temperatures and lack of rain.

March in Vietnam

• South Vietnam becomes much hotter
• Ideal time for hiking and exploring the North and one of the best times to visit Vietnam

March is a very popular time to visit Vietnam due to the warmer and much dryer weather you’re likely to experience. It’s also one of the best months to visit Halong Bay where you’re likely to find exceptionally sunny skies and little to no winds for the ultimate experience. Due to the sunnier skies and warmer temperatures, it’s also a really lovely time to take a trip to the North of Vietnam and visit places like Cao Bang, Angel Eye Mountain and Ban Gioc Waterfall. Depending on the particular year, you can even start to see the beginning of the spring flowers in the countryside and mountains towards the end of March if spring comes early – a truly beautiful sight to see. Nature truly feels like it is coming alive in the North of Vietnam in March, and the farmers you see will be in full action.

April in Vietnam

• Likely to see a profusion of Spring flowers
• Beach destinations are very popular
• Potentially the best month to visit Vietnam

April could very well be the best time to visit Vietnam, especially if you want to visit as many places as possible within the country. Whilst the South of Vietnam is becoming very hot around areas like Ho Chi Minh City, it is still doable. The North of Vietnam is wonderful in April and at this time of year you’re likely to see spring flowers cropping up everywhere in the countryside, which is well worth a visit! It’s also a fantastic time to visit Central Vietnam and the coast in areas like Hue and Hoi An, where temperatures are high, but can make for an amazing time, especially if you want to spend some time relaxing on the beach within your trip.

May in Vietnam

• Very hot temperatures in the South of Vietnam
• Showers to be expected in most locations

In May it is extremely hot in the South of Vietnam with temperatures reaching around 40c at times. Ho Chi Minh City is best avoided at this time due to the humidity and temperatures you’ll experience. If you’re planning to visit in May, its best to organize your trip around Hanoi or the central coast in areas such as Hoi An and Hue. You can still visit the mountains in the North of Vietnam in May, but there is likely to be rain as it’s approaching rainy season, though it can still be doable. However, because the weather is quite changeable in May, it’s possible to get a real deal on your trip with costs being much lower.

June in Vietnam

• Generally at the height of Vietnam’s monsoon season in the South
• Heavy rains and storms to be expected in the North – with adventure, hiking, trekking, and exploring off limits

In June the North of Vietnam experiences heavy rains and storms which can result in paths, roads and trails being flooded or very muddy, so unfortunately things like trekking and hiking are off limits. Whereas in the South of Vietnam, monsoon season has begun and so this isn’t the best time to visit and can lead to extensive flooding especially around the Mekong Delta. In June, you’ll need to focus your trip on central Vietnam in the areas of Hue or Hoi An. Central Vietnam is a much better option and you can often get a good deal as the coast is usually dry. The weather around central Vietnam is actually doable in June, with pleasant temperatures that make exploring much more possible. It can also be the best time to travel to Vietnam if you want to get a good deal on travel, due to the country generally being quieter at this time.

July in Vietnam

• Still at the height of rainy season in Vietnam: Generally wet in the North and South of Vietnam with monsoons continuing
• Good time to visit the central coast of Vietnam

July, in terms of weather in Vietnam is generally the same as June as it’s still at the height of Vietnam’s rainy season. Except you can expect monsoon and heavy rain conditions to potentially worsen in both the North and South of Vietnam. However, the coast and beaches of central Vietnam can be really beautiful to visit in July with temperatures reaching similar to what you’d expect in the Mediterranean at around 30c.

August in Vietnam

• Very rainy in the North of Vietnam and the Highlands
• Central coast is great to visit
• South of Vietnam is very hot with rain

You’ll have a great time in Vietnam if you’re planning to visit the center in August as temperatures are holding well from July with little rain and sunny skies. It’s a great time to visit places like Hoi An. In the North of Vietnam, August isn’t a good month to explore due to the heavy rains and storms which may well have caused significant impassable areas. The South of Vietnam is still very rainy at this time and extremely hot too. Due to flooding that is likely to have been experienced in the South of Vietnam, visiting the Mekong Delta wouldn’t really be possible in August, and visiting Ho Chi Minh City would be unpleasant because of the humidity.

September in Vietnam

• Storms start to come into central Vietnam
• The North of Vietnam is passable from late September
• Possible great time to see fall/autumn foliage if this comes early

Things start to really switch around in September with the weather in Vietnam when central Vietnam becomes stormy and very rainy. However, from mid September, depending on the year, the storms have eased off in the North and trekking, hiking and exploring the Northern mountains and countryside again becomes possible. At the end of September is also a great date to put into the calendar where the major harvest festival takes place in alignment with the full moon. The countryside is spectacular with goods being harvested and a flurry of activity to see. If Autumn/fall comes early that year, the colors to be seen in the countryside are truly beautiful, but this is more likely in October.

October in Vietnam

• Hiking and adventure in the North and South are easily enjoyed again
• Central Vietnam is wet, stormy and sometimes a lot cooler
• Rice harvest

In October, Central Vietnam is not a great place to visit as it is very stormy with heavy rains – if you visit in October, you won’t be able to take advantage of what central Vietnam is famous for (typically its paradise-like beaches and incredible cultural cities). However, October is a fantastic time for visiting the countryside of the North of Vietnam and into the mountains to see the rice harvest as well as the wonderful colors that pop up at this time of year in nature. In the South of Vietnam, there is also a flurry of activity, and it again becomes a great place to visit. If you’re visiting at this time, be sure to head to the Mekong Delta where the famous floating markets are packed full of incredible fresh produce and traditional, artisan offerings.

November in Vietnam

• Central Vietnam is still wet, stormy and colder
• Great time to visit the beaches of South Vietnam
• One of the best times for adventures in the North of Vietnam and one of the best months to visit Vietnam overall
• Clear skies in Halong Bay

November sees the start of the second high season that Vietnam experiences, but it really is at the beginning, so temperatures can be changeable. However, November is, aside from April, the best month to go to Vietnam to visit Halong Bay due to the clear skies. Much like earlier in the year, in April, you’re likely to have the best chance of experiencing Halong Bay in clear visibility. The temperatures in both the North and the South are also hot and dry at this time, with temperatures in the mountains pleasant because of the low humidity. However, it’s best to avoid central Vietnam at this time due to continued stormy conditions.

December in Vietnam

• Temperatures are hot across the country, but cooling to more manageable temperatures
• Christmas makes Vietnam busy, with it being a popular destination for Christmas holidays so prices can go up
• Rain calms down in Central Vietnam

Much like January, December is a great time to visit Vietnam as you have the opportunity to visit many locations in Vietnam from North to South and experience the best of all. There is still a good chance of rain in central Vietnam in December, however through the month, this becomes less and less as January gets closer. Both Northern and Southern Vietnam have great opportunities for adventure trips and treks at this time as the mountains are dry and warm but becoming cooler at night (and sometimes cooler in the day). However, because Christmas falls in December, it is advisable to book early to secure at a reasonable price as it does become busier and more expensive at this time.

As you can see, there really is no best time to visit Vietnam as this depends completely on what you want from your trip. Whilst November – April are some of the best times to visit Vietnam if you’re looking to explore as much of the country as you can. It’s also possible to find great deals at some of the quieter times of year if you’re on a tight budget and want to devote time to one particular area only. We hope this guide makes it easier for you to find the best time to travel to Vietnam for your plans and what you have in mind. For more Vietnam travel guides and information such as the key cities in Vietnam to visit and other resources, check out our Vietnam travel hub .

Discover more about Vietnam: 

6 Key Cities in Vietnam to Visit and Why

14 Unforgettable Things to do in Hanoi, Vietnam

Tips for visiting Vietnam in October

Vietnam weather & when to go: October

Vietnam october weather overview.

Things continue to improve in the north with clearer skies, less rainfall and a break to the high humidity of recent months. In the centre it’s the opposite story with high rainfall and the chance of stormy weather. Whilst the rain tumbles in the centre, the south starts to see a change for the good with less rainfall and a promise of the returning summer. Good conditions for adventure activities also return in the mountains of the north and in the Central Highlands.

Unfollow the herd - travel in Vietnam during October and enjoy fewer crowds, better availability, and help to spread the economic benefits of tourism.

Vietnam weather & when to go

Pick a month below, north vietnam, central vietnam, south vietnam, october’s weather in detail, hanoi, halong bay, sapa, ha giang, mu cang chai, ninh binh & mai chau.

October sees the end of the wet season in the north, and as the month moves on the temperature drops, as does the rainfall, especially in the second half of the month as the cooler, dry winter approaches (avg temp: 26°C). In the far north, the weather in the mountainous regions of Sapa and Ha Giang is dry and clear, promising some of the best trekking conditions of the year. Early October is a particularly picturesque time of year to visit Mu Cang Chai, as the region's endless rice fields turn a golden colour, ready to harvest.

Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Dalat & Central Highlands

The rainfall in the centre of the country is close to its peak and heavy storms can occur. Hoi Ai in particular is prone to flooding in October. The temperatures in Hoi An and Hue differ slightly with Hoi An and Danang being the hotter end of the Hai Van Pass (avg temp: 24- 27°C). Further to the south the beaches of Nha Trang will be seeing plenty of rain with nearly half the city's annual rainfall falling in October and November. The heavy rains in Dalat and the Central Highlands start to break, especially towards the end of the month when good conditions for outdoor activity return. However, weeks of heavy rainfall could mean that some of the Phong Nha caves are inaccessible and not possible to visit.  

Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Mekong Delta, Ho Tram & Long Hai, Con Dao & Phu Quoc

October is the month for change in the south with rainfall on the decline especially towards the end of the month as the region moves towards its dry, hot summer months (avg temp: 27 °C). The southern beaches of Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, and the islands of Phu Quoc & Con Dao are starting to recover from the winter months and the sun starts to shine once again, especially towards the end of the month. Around the island of Con Dao, Green Turtle hatchlings continue to emerge from their nesting grounds under the sand and make their first steps to the sea.  

We think you may like this journey…

From Phở to Paddy

Embark on a journey through Vietnam’s less-visited north - lush rolling hills, remote villages and friendly locals, with a side of morning noodles in Hanoi.

Looking for inspiration?

View All wishlist

View all wishlist

• Top 10 Vietnam Tours
• Country Discovery
• Family Holidays
• Vietnam Eco Tours
• Vietnam Golf Tours
• Luxury & More
• Vietnam Honeymoon Holidays
• Beaches & Leisure
• Health, Spa & Wellness Tours
• Adventure Motorcycle Tours
• Northern Vietnam
• Central Vietnam
• Southern Vietnam
• Angkor Tours
• Classic Tours
• Luxury Tours
• Adventure Tours
• Family Vacations
• Beach Holidays
• Cycling Tours
• Luxury Holidays
• Honeymoon Packages
• Family Tours
• Great Wall of China Tours
• Hiking Tours
• Vietnam & Cambodia
• Vietnam & Laos
• Vietnam & Thailand
• Thailand & Cambodia
• Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia
• Halong Bay Cruises
• Mekong Cruises
• Hanoi City Tours
• Ho Chi Minh City Tours
• Halong – Cat Ba Tours
• Hoa Lu – Tam Coc
• Da Nang – Hoi An Tours
• Nha Trang Tours
• Phu Quoc Tours
• Mekong Delta Tours
• Ha Giang Tours
• Mai Chau Tours
• Shore Excursions
• First Trip to Vietnam
• 7 Days (1 Week)
• 14 Days (2 Weeks)
• Mui Ne Phan Thiet
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Tet Holiday in Vietnam
• Vietnamese Zodiac Elements
• Traditional Folk Games
• Kanchanaburi
• First Trip to Thailand
• 4 Days in Laos
• 5 days in Laos
• 7 Day in Laos
• Luang Prabang
• Savannakhet
• Useful travel apps in Laos
• 3 Days in Cambodia
• Cambodia in 5 Days
• Cambodia in 7 Days
• Angkor Thom
• Sihanoukville
• Kampong Cham
• Ngapali Beach
• Kalaw & Pindaya
• Best of Vietnam
• Beautiful Vietnam
• Vietnam weather
• Vietnam Food
• Vietnam Itineraries
• Vietnam Travel News
• Vietnam Travel Tips
• Vietnam Culture
• Ethnics of Vietnam
• Beautiful Thailand
• Thailand itineraries
• Thailand Travel Tips
• Beautiful Cambodia
• Cambodia Travel Tips
• Cambodia itineraries
• Beautiful Laos
• Laos Itineraries
• Laos Travel Tips
• Beautiful Myanmar
• Best of Myanmar
• City Highlights
• Myanamar Travel Tips
• Myanmar Itineraries
• Beautiful China
• Company News
• 14 Days in Vietnam and Laos
• 15 Days in Vietnam and Laos
• Vietnam and Laos in 17 – 20 Days
• 11 Days in Vietnam and Thailand
• 12 Days in Vietnam and Thailand
• 13 Days in Vietnam and Thailand
• 14 Days in Vietnam and Thailand
• 15 Days in Vietnam and Thailand
• 16 Days in Vietnam and Thailand
• Vietnam Visa
• Flights to Vietnam
• Vietnam domestic flights
• Vietnam MICE, Incentive travel
• Vietnam trains
• Thailand car rental
• Cambodia car rental
• Myanmar car rental
• Laos car rental
• Why Choose Us
• Logo, Slogan and Website
• Meet The Team
• Terms and Conditions
• Payment Methods
• Responsible Travel
• Land Tour Operator
• Create my Trip

Vietnam in October: Weather and Best places to visit

Vietnam in october - mixture of late autumn and early winter.

• Updated: September 13, 2022 Amelie Nguyen in Vietnam weather 0 comment.

Overview of Vietnam Weather in October

Generally, October marks the end of autumn in our country, the weather is like a mixture of late autumn and early winter. The average temperature throughout the country is about 26°C – 27°C, which is really cool and very comfortable. There will be a lot of rain in the beginning of October and the rainfall will decrease strongly at the end of the month. So, if you want to visit Vietnam in October, the period from October 20 to 31 should be the best.

In the North: Cool, chilly with some drizzle

In northern Vietnam, October is clearly the end of the rainy season, the weather is cool, chilly with some drizzle. Although there may be some flooding at the beginning of this month, the second half of October sees a decrease in heat and humidity. The average temperature varies between 23°C and 26°C with a pleasant atmosphere.

The beginning of October is a particularly picturesque time of year to visit remote mountainous areas such as Sapa, Mu Cang Chai and Ha Giang, as it is the harvest time and you can see the beautiful landscape of golden rice terraces. In addition, the weather is dry and sunny (temperatures of 16-17°C), which is perfect for adventure activities such as trekking. On the other hand, if you are planning a Ha Long Bay cruise this month, book in the second half of October to avoid the stormy season.

The weather in October is perfect for exploring the northern mountains

In the Center: Not ideal to visit

Unfortunately, October is not really a good time to travel in central Vietnam. Although the average temperature here is 24°C to 27°C, which seems comfortable enough, it is in the middle of the rainy season here, and all you may see is heavy rain and severe flooding or storms. Due to bad weather, Phong Nha caves are inaccessible, while heavy storms may harm you in Danang and Hoi An becomes the Venice of Vietnam due to floods. Therefore, if you have a travel plan in October, it is better to avoid visiting the center of the country.

In the South: Good time for a beach holiday

In southern Vietnam, October is the moment of change from the hot and dry summer, as rainfall continues to decrease, especially towards the end of the month. Temperatures slowly rise towards 20°C and sunny days are frequent. The average temperature of this month reaches 27°C and it is ideal for a beach holiday . Many tourists visit Phu Quoc Island and the coastal town of Phan Thiet at this time, as it rains less and the sea is quite warm, especially towards the end of the month.

A beach holiday in Phu Quoc is perfect in October

Major Events in October

Vietnamese women’s day (20/10).

Vietnamese Women’s Day is held on October 20 every year. Established on October 20, 1930, following the creation of the Vietnamese Women’s Union on the same day, this important day reminds the Vietnamese people every year that women also came together and fought for the country’s independence. Since then, they have continued to assert their rights, just like men. On this special day, women receive gifts, flowers and congratulations from their friends.

Vietnamese Women’s Day is an occasion to honor Vietnamese women

Kate Festival (Binh Thuan)

The Kate festival, or also called Mbang Kate, is organized by the Cham people for 3 days in early October. This event takes place in a large space in the three Champa towers (Po Nagar, Po Klong Garai and Po Rome). This festival is to commemorate their heroes Po Klong Garai and Po Rome, as well as the deaths in the families. In addition, it is an opportunity for the people to relax, meet and wish each other good luck for the future.

Kate Festival

This is one of the biggest and most important events of the Cham people in Vietnam. Therefore, it is a good opportunity for visitors to experience the beauty of Cham culture, from the architecture to the costumes to the traditional instruments and songs used to honor their kings in the past. Each tower’s Kate festival begins at the same time on the same day, and on the following day, villages and families begin to organize their own rites. During the rite, people call upon their ancestors and gods with the help of a shaman, then pray for health and prosperity. The festivals after the rites are a combination of traditional music and dance, including such activities as performances of Ginang drum and Saranai flute or the traditional dance of Cham girls.

Best places to visit in October

Golden rices fields in north vietnam.

As mentioned above, the harvest time in northern Vietnam is October, and this is the only time of the year when you can see the most beautiful golden rice terraces. The further away the destination is, the more beautiful the view of the ripe rice fields. You can start your trip in Ninh Binh with the classic beauty of flat rice fields, then go further to see the special landscape of golden terraces in Mu Cang Chai or Ha Giang.

Rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai in October

Hanoi in fall

Autumn settles into the city gracefully, bringing cool, gentle breezes and rays of sunshine that sprinkle just the right amount of warmth all around. With its romantic scenery and cool weather, Hanoi in October with the falling leaves wins the heart of any visitor to the city.

Hanoi is romantic in autumn

Walk under the trees of these streets: Kim Ma, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hoang Hoa Tham, Phan Dinh Phung, or Tran Phu, you will surely have to linger to feel the poetic features tinged with the yellow of time. And it is not an exaggeration that Hanoi is ranked by CNN on the list of the best places to go for fall .

Mekong Delta

Traveling south to the Mekong Delta, October is in the middle of the water flood season here, although there is less rain. In other areas, rain may prevent you from traveling; however, in the Mekong Delta, this time is the most beautiful time, when the rain helps reveal the natural charm of the land.

As a place where nature and people have to depend mainly on the river, rain is important because it brings life here. Mangrove forests, floating markets, bird sanctuaries and small islands are the places to visit in the Mekong Delta in October, as they are impressive and easy to access after a long rain.

October is a great time to travel to Vietnam. Wherever you go, the Vietnamese will be very open and welcoming. Take your luggage and go on a trip to Vietnam in October! And if you want a tailor-made trip, don’t hesitate to contact us . Our consultants are always ready to help you create a precious memory in Vietnam!

We are here to help you...

Start planning your tailor-made tour with 1-1 help from our specialists

Amelie Nguyen

Hello, I'm Amélie NGUYEN. I was born, raised in Hanoi and have been to almost all places in Vietnam and Asia. Let me share with you more interesting information about travel !

Leave a Reply Cancel

Your email address will not be published

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You might also like

Vietnam in Winter: Best Places to Visit & Suggested Itineraries to Embrace the Chill

Winter is widely regarded as the ideal season to discover the Northern regions of Vietnam, given the captivating landscapes that come alive…

Hanoi in Winter – An Ultimate Guide for Your Trip

If Hanoi gives off a festive vibe in Spring, a vibrant vibe in Summer, and a romantic appeal in Autumn, then you…

Hanoi in Summer – Essential Tips to Travel with Ease

Hanoi has always been famous for its romantic beauty when Autumn comes. Moreover, people also fall in love with the bitterly cold…

These Are the Best Times to Visit Vietnam

Vietnam has over 2,000 miles of coastline, densely forested mountains, rapidly growing cities and surrounding limestone islands, and its popularity as a travel destination has grown immensely in recent years — from five million visitors in 2010 to 15 million in 2018.

Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi bustle with mopeds and motorcycles, while street vendors offer a culinary display of the country's deeply-rooted history and culture. Vietnam's location in Southeast Asia, along with its ecological and cultural diversity, draws travelers from around the world, from budget-conscious backpackers to leisure travelers searching for a slice of paradise at its white sand beaches.

While the natural, cultural and historical wonders of Vietnam can be enjoyed throughout the year, the best times to go depend on where you intend to travel and what you'd like to do. Extreme weather is not uncommon in Vietnam, but this doesn't mean you can't visit during the rainy season. Simply put, make sure you're prepared for whatever a specific region and season may throw your way.

The Best Weather in Vietnam

The weather in Vietnam can vary greatly between the northern, central and southern parts of the country. Due to the country's topographical and ecological diversity, the weather can even differ within one region — for instance, the weather on one side of a mountain range may be significantly different from the opposite side.

North Vietnam

In the north, winter — which occurs between December and March — can bring cooler temperatures even at lower elevations. In the mountainous northwest, it sometimes gets cold enough to snow. The dry season in the north is from October to April, but shifts later in the season as you head south (it doesn't start until November around Hanoi). With summer (May through September) comes warmer temperatures and higher rainfall. Some of the best weather occurs in the spring and fall, which tend to remain dry.

Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam is hot and dry from mid-January through late August. Typhoons are not uncommon between October and December, with most of the rain occurring in November and early December. January through September is the best time to visit this region if you're hoping to stay dry.

South Vietnam

The temperature in the southern part of the country remains fairly consistent, often reaching the mid- to upper 90s regardless of season. The dry season takes place from November through April, and the wet season dominates the remainder of the year. During the wet season (May through October), the rain often comes in high-intensity afternoon downpours, leaving the rest of the day dry and sunny.

When to Visit Vietnam for Events

Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet, is usually celebrated nationwide beginning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, which occurs in January or February. Tet is traditionally a time for people to spend with their families and welcome the arrival of spring. Because of this, busier cities like Hanoi tend to be less crowded, but there are no shortage of celebratory events.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Buddhists from around the country make the pilgrimage to the Perfume Pagoda — a series of sacred caves — near Hanoi. Many arrive on the 15th of the first month (which often occurs in February or March) of the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, which is when the Perfume Pagoda Festival takes place. While travelers can visit the Perfume Pagoda year-round, visiting during the Festival offers a glimpse into this long-lived tradition.

National Day, which takes place on September 2 each year, celebrates the day Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence. This patriotic day is a great time to be in one of Vietnam's major cities — specifically Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang or Hanoi — to experience the marches, fireworks, parades and other festivities.

Also known as Tết Trung Thu or the Full Moon Festival, the Mid-autumn Festival takes place during the eighth lunar month (usually mid- to late September). While this originated in China as a celebration of agriculture and harvests, Vietnam has its own unique traditions and ways to celebrate. Dancers and colorful costumes can be found in city streets, and illuminated lanterns accompany children as they sing songs while walking through neighborhoods.

When to Explore Vietnam's Cities

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are two of Vietnam's most popular cities to visit. While an argument can be made for visiting both cities any time of year, some seasons have more of a benefit over others.

Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, is located in northern Vietnam and consequently experiences significantly different weather than south Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City. In the fall and spring, the weather in Hanoi tends to be mild and dry, while the weather in Ho Chi Minh City is most favorable during the winter. During the rainiest seasons, which occur from May to September in Hanoi and May to October in Ho Chi Minh City, travel plans can be disrupted, so travel to cities during this time may require flexibility — and plenty of rain gear.

When to Avoid the Crowds

Peak season in Vietnam generally occurs in the spring and fall throughout the country. Southern Vietnam can also get busy during the winter when the temperatures are cooler.

If avoiding crowds of other tourists is a priority, visiting during the summer is a safe bet throughout the country. In August (especially late August), daily temperatures may be slightly lower than in July but the fall crowds have not yet arrived. The colder temperatures in the north discourage many tourists from visiting the region during the winter as well, despite the fact that it is the dry season.

The Cheapest Time to Visit Vietnam

Affordable airfare.

Most trips to Vietnam either begin in Ho Chi Minh City in the south or Hanoi in the north. While the two regions offer unique experiences (which isn't to say you can't experience both), flying into Ho Chi Minh City is often cheaper.

Historical data collected by travel booking platform Skycanner.com suggests flying to Ho Chi Minh City from New York is cheapest in November. Flights from Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Los Angeles all tend to be the cheapest around September. With the exception of Chicago and Dallas, which are around $576 and $731 round-trip, respectively, the lowest prices usually fall in the mid- $400 range.

If flying to Hanoi from New York or San Francisco, the cheapest month to travel is October ($531 from New York and $446 from San Francisco). If you are coming from Seattle, Chicago or Dallas, August and September are likely your best bet, with airfare from Seattle and Dallas dropping to the upper- $700 range and mid- $500 range from Chicago. Flights from Los Angeles can be found as low as $501 in November.

Affordable Lodging

An analysis of monthly data collected by hotel booking platform Priceline.com, looking at hotels 2.5 stars and above from 2017 to the present, shows average accommodation pricing across the country does not fluctuate much on a month-to-month basis.

"Priceline data reveals that hotel prices in Vietnam tend to remain close to the overall average daily rate of $85 per night, irrespective of the time of year," Kevin O'Leary, Senior Analyst at Priceline, told TPG in an email. "While they do fluctuate, they rarely stray far away from the midpoint."

According to historical data collected by Kayak.com , however, if you are headed for one of Vietnam's major cities, you likely will experience both more price fluctuation and higher prices overall.

In Ho Chi Minh City, which recently ranked as Kayak.com's top three trending destination , hotels run between $102 and $131 per night, with July being the cheapest and December being the priciest months. Hotel prices in Hanoi are similar, with the cheapest prices found in February and July and the most expensive in October and March. Da Nang, which is located in central Vietnam, is one of the more expensive cities to spend the night in. Prices drop to around $152 in January and February, but frequently exceed $200, hitting a high of $238 in May.

Bottom Line

While there isn't really a "bad" time to visit Vietnam, the season will depict which region will have the best weather. Regardless of when you decide to travel, there will always be moderate temperatures and sunshine to be found somewhere in the country. And for those lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and a specific travel goal in mind, be sure to choose the appropriate season for the area you'd like to visit.

Vietnam - weather & travel conditions in October

October weather makes it one of very good months to travel in Vietnam .

The North of the countr y enjoys full mode of autumn with blue sky, honey sunlight and mild temperature dominate the whole month. All places are expected to be clear since the rainfall and humidity decrease remarkably. The average temperature during this time stays at 24 – 27oC.

The Centre of Vietnam sees the rainfall increases and storms might affect the area during this month whilst temperature becomes much milder.

In Hue, Quang Tri ( around former DMZ) and the area of Phong Nha Ke Bang National park the temperature drops down to an average of 24oC whilst south of the Hai Van Pass including Da Nang, Hoi an Quy Nhon and Nha Trang the temperature stays at around 27 – 30oC.

The Central Highlands including Da Lat is getting out of the rainy season and weather is more favorable towards the end of the month.

The South of Vietnam including Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc sees the rainfall declining especially towards the end of the month as the region moves towards its dry season. The average temperature stays at around 29 - 30°C.

Hanoi's Liberation Day (October 10)

This celebration is organized to commemorate the event in 1954 when the Vietnamese People’s Army marched into the capital, which had been occupied by the French colonialists, after its victory over the French troop in Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Accord was signed to see the retreat of French troop and colonialists from Vietnam.

During this day Hanoi streets normally decorated with flowers, flags and banners and there are some performances at public places to commemorate the event.

Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20)

Apart from the International Women Day on March 8 Vietnamese women have another day for them on this day though not as popular. During this day man become more gallant (not sure :)) and women, especially in cities, will receive gifts and stuffs from their husbands, lovers. Streets normally become busy in the evening with couples and entertainment places normally full.

Halloween (October 31)

This is a new practice comes from the West in just recent few years and normally just happen in cities and amongst the young.  Anyway, it is quite popular in the tourist sites and this time restaurants, bars discotheques and so on normally organize something for tourists to join in.

How to do and what to expect if travel to Vietnam in October

October is said to be a very good month to travel in Vietnam and a big itinerary can be easily made with places along the entire length of the country.

It does not a matter whether you are a professional or amateur photographer, this time ensures good photos you will have during your travel. Hanoi changes its color and becomes most charming during this time whilst Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island offer stunning cruises with great view. The same good conditions are available at other places like Ninh Binh, Mai Chau and Cuc Phuong. This time of the year, Sapa , Ha Giang and other far north mountainous areas are in the harvesting season offering the best sightseeing time of the year. It is really a great chance for photos hunter and nature lovers.

Hue , Hoi An and other place in the centre can be added into the itinerary without hesitation though beaches will be not a high priority. The area is also prone to stormy weather which might affect your itinerary a bit.

All places in the South are good to visit and if you are a beach lover then Mui Ne, Phu Quoc or Con Dao are good choices.

Travel conditions for places

Other countries.

Vietnam in October- Weather, Events and Festivals, Best Places To Visit

Vietnam in October experiences both autumn and monsoon. Neither too hot nor too cold, the weather is fine for every traveller. It is one of the peak times to visit North Vietnam and Central Highlands for hiking and other recreational activities. Although Central Vietnam and some parts of South Vietnam are affected by monsoon and typhoons yet many alluring destinations in the North promise pleasant weather, especially the rural areas of Vietnam. Stay till the end of the article to know about the breathtaking attractions and beauty of Vietnam in October.

Weather in Vietnam in October

October is the end of the wet month in the northern mountain region hence trekking is open once again in SaPa and Ha Giang. October marks a peak month to visit SaPa and areas around Mu Cang Chai. This is the month when golden rice crops sway under light showers of rain and are ready to be harvested. Occasional drizzling occur but Sun appears equally hence the weather is not bad. The average temperature remains around 26°C. By the end of the month, the temperature starts to drop. 

By October, North Vietnam is at the end of the monsoon phase with an average temperature of 25°C. Outdoors have plenty of warmth which tends to decrease by the end of the month. All the major cities in North Vietnam are good-to-go in the fall season. Hanoi and Halong Bay are great to explore under the soothing weather.

Central Vietnam experiences northeast monsoon in October at its peak. Central Vietnam has 24-27°C average temperatures with large amounts of rainfalls. Along with stormy weather, prolonged rains may cause floods in the coastal region. Dalat and Central Highlands become less affected by month’s end making outdoor sights possible while Hoi An, Phong Nha may get floods. Central Vietnam is prone to typhoons in autumn.

During October, rains affect South Vietnam less than the monsoon months, with an average temperature of 27°C. Southern beach resorts dazzle under the warm sun, visiting Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, and the islands of Phu Quoc & Con Dao will be fruitful. The end of the month is a good time to visit the Mekong Delta after a long wait of six months. October is also the month of Green Turtle's first hatchlings on Con Dao island. 

Events and Festivals in Vietnam in October

Tet Trung Thu is the mid-autumn festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year. This festival is mainly for children to engage in various cultural dances and arts, and is also known as the festival of harvesting crops. The history of celebrating the festival is related to Emperor Duong Minh Hoang’s visit to the moon via Dien Phap Thien’s magic. The Emperor enjoyed the heavenly atmosphere and performances by the fairies on the moon. After he came back on Earth, he decided to celebrate the 15th day of the 8th lunar month under the moon and decorate houses and streets with lanterns. 

Star-shaped and Carp-shaped lanterns, Vietnamese mooncakes, traditional dances, mini-contests for children, and their cackles adorn the atmosphere of Vietnam. The major activities of the festival include worshipping the God of Earth (farmers and their families thank God for a successful harvest), funny-mask making, glittering star-shaped lantern making and processions, traditional dragon and lion dances, family gathering and making offerings to their ancestors, enjoying mooncakes together. Travelers can visit Hoi An to have a spectacular view of the streets and around the Japanese Covered Bridge on full moon night to enjoy the lantern lighting.

Cham Kate Festival is an important festival of the Cham ethnic group which is held in Ninh Thuan Province from the 30th day of the 6th month to the 2nd day of the 7th month according to the Cham calendar (around the end of September and the beginning of October). The festival comprises commemorative rites, remembrance of national heroes, offerings to deities, cultural art performances, processions, and prayers for health, happiness, and abundant crops. 

The festival takes place in Po Inu Nagar Temple in Ninh Phuoc District. Visitors can witness the festive aura here by attending the second day of the Kate Festival. Traditional art performances include Apsara dance, Ginang, and Paranung drum-beat, Saranai triumph while there are numerous competitions like weaving contest, carrying water jar on one’s head, football, singing.

Spectacular night view on the 14th night of every month in Hoi An, Vietnam is worth experiencing as the city celebrates the festival of lights. Lighting lanterns are considered to be good luck and fortune charm in Vietnam. Hoi An lantern festival is considered to be an incredible moment to follow the rituals of worshipping deceased relatives. The festival brings closeness and happiness and is a wise method to save electricity.

Visitors and locals gather at An Hoi Bridge and on the banks of Hoai River as the sunset begins, to enjoy the luring food of Vietnam. The view is the best at the ancient town area of Hoi An where natives light paper lanterns around 9 pm and hang on streets, bars, shops. Families give each other presents like flowers, foods, and fake money in the belief of future prosperity. The streets are sparkled with musicians, instrumentalists, poetry readings, and mini craft classes for kids too. Traffic is prohibited in the area allowing hassle-free movement. Not to worry if you are vegetarian as there are numerous vegetarian foods and mouth-watering snacks to grab.

Places to Visit in Vietnam in October

• October almost marks an end to beach time and reopens the opportunity for hiking and other recreational activities in North Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, Sapa, Mu Cang Chai and Halong Bay. Overall, it is a picturesque month in rural areas of Vietnam. 
• In Hanoi ‘milk flower’ blossoms and brims the streets with its unique scent. Tourists can plan to visit Hanoi around the Lantern festival to witness beautiful flower beds decorated on the streets along with colorful signboards.
• October attracts foreign tourists towards North Vietnam and some parts of South Vietnam still you can expect low airfares and cheap prices of hotels and accommodations but not in Hanoi. 

Below is the list of the cities, places from North Vietnam to South Vietnam to visit in October.

Located in the Northwest Mountain region of Vietnam, this beautiful town SaPa has various small villages. SaPa is cool with an average temperature of 17°C but autumn winds make the surroundings more beautiful in October. There might occur drizzling but 4-5 hours of sunshine and fresh air make October the best month for trekking in Sapa.

Travelers must visit the ‘SaPa museum’ and ‘Cat Cat Village’ (one of the oldest villages of Sapa) to learn the history of people here and ‘Cloud Yard’ to compliment the beauty of clouds. SaPa gives an opportunity to hike Vietnam’s Highest Peak ‘Mt. Fansipan’ whose viewpoint is called Heaven's Gate. Not just this, visitors can do boating on SaPa Lake, have warm beverages, and taste the local cuisine or delicious desserts in restaurants. You can buy handicrafts from SaPa Market or visit ‘Ta Phin Village’ to witness Communal Church Singing - a marriage tradition. 3 or 4-star hotels are available at cheap rates in June, book your stay, and enjoy the beauty of hills.

• Other popular attractions include Fairy Cave, Silver Waterfalls, Tram Ton Pass, Muong Hoa Valley, Muong Khuong Bird Market.

2. Mai Chau

Mai Chau is a northwestern mountainous district in Hoa Binh Province. October is the peak tourist month in Mai Chau when the average temperature hovers around 28°C. Although there isn’t much to explore here yet, the peaceful and colorful environment of Mai Chau (home of Thai ethnic groups) is worth visiting in autumn. Pu Luong Nature Reserve is good for hiking and if you want to enjoy snow go for Deo Thung Khe. Stilt houses are the noteworthy architecture of the Mai Chau district.

• Other popular attractions include Go Lao Waterfall, Chieu Cave, Thung Ke Pass Flagpole.

3. Mu Cang Chai

Mu Cang Chai is a northwest mountainous rural district in Vietnam that creates jaw-dropping scenery in October which is a fall season here. You will see ready-to-harvest golden rice crops swaying proudly on the terraces. This is the high time to know the lifestyle of Mong Ethnic farmers.

Mu Cang Chai consists of many small villages having beautiful terraces and weather. Khau Pha Pass, called ‘Sky’s Horn’ develops magnificent scenery. There are other small villages in the city to visit to adore the beauty of paddy farming and to experience their local culture by the homestay. A visit to Mu Cang Chai is incomplete without visiting two of its breathtaking waterfalls - Mo and Phu Nu waterfalls. Mu Cang Chai has its market too.

• Other popular attractions include Ba Nha Bridge, Mam Xoi Hill, Kim Noi Village.

4. Ninh Binh

Located in North Vietnam, Ninh Binh Province is famous for its Karst Landscape in Tam Coc. October is one of the best seasons to visit Ninh Binh because it is the rice harvest season. Hire a boat to see the limestone cliffs in Tam Coc, this two-hour excursion takes you through three natural caves - Hang Ca, Hang Hai, Hang Ba. A journey of about five hundred steps to the ancient temple on the hilltop - Hang Mua will lead to a panoramic view from Tam Coc. Do not miss Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda in South East Asia. Van Long Nature Reserve is the place for keen birdwatchers and nature lovers as here you can spot local flora and fauna. Apart from all this, Ninh Binh offers a three-hour train ride “Reunification Express” (not an official name of a train) that takes you through the coastline of Vietnam from North to South. 

• Other popular attractions include Hoa Lu, Trang An, Phat Diem Cathedral, Ken Gha.

5. Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province

In October, biodiversity is great in Cuc Phuong National Park located in Ninh Binh Province. You can trek through a grass jungle and observe ancient trees and a rich variety of flora and fauna. Vietnam’s oldest national park includes the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre where Monkeys, Langurs, and Gibbons were rescued and kept and the Turtle Conservation Centre. There is a Cave of Prehistoric Man where centuries-old skeletons, tools are preserved. Families must not miss a trip to the national park. Do not forget to apply mosquito repellent and wear good hiking shoes. 

Hanoi is the only capital of a country that isn't its largest city. Capital of Vietnam - Hanoi, is a place for every traveler. Hanoi’s weather in October is warm with a cold breeze when you can witness autumn. October is a peak month to explore Hanoi and to witness the blooming of ‘Milk Flower’ or Alstonia scholaris. Definitely taste ‘Com’ - green colored rice flake which originates from Vong Village. People in Hanoi give tribute to Ly Cong Uan King (who chose Hanoi as Vietnam’s capital over ten centuries ago) on the 10th of October.

From several historical museums to underrated monuments to extravagant nightlife, Hanoi offers everything all together. There’s a lot to do in Hanoi, in the morning travelers can visit historical sites and enjoy markets to save the nights for the view of Old Quarter Hanoi at weekend and Hoan Kiem Lake for a boat ride. Where St. Joseph’s Cathedral and OnePillar Pagoda are major sites for worshipping, there are Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Opera House, Thang Long water puppet Theatre, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda that reflects Vietnamese culture. If you love museums you should not miss the National Museum of History, Vietnamese Women’s Museum and Hanoi Museum, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and Thủy Cung Times City which is an aquarium. Families can visit Thu Le Zoo, Union Park, Hanoi Botanical Garden. To buy souvenirs, gifts, and to taste Vietnam’s cuisine, night markets are the best so hit Hanoi Night Market, Long Bien Market. 

• Other popular attractions include Hanoi Train Street, Cau Giay Park, Dong Xuan Market, Rose Park, Smiley Ville, Lotte Observation Deck, Long Bien Bridge, Ba Vi National Park, Perfume Pagoda. 

7. Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay located in North Vietnam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so there’s much to explore and spend a soothing October here. The weather starts to cool down with fewer sunshine hours yet no daily downpours, so it isn’t a great time to get tanned on beaches and islands. Near the end, nights become chilly. Nevertheless, travelers can go for a cruise, swimming, cooking classes. It is a good month for kayaking and snorkeling.

There are caves to explore and floating villages to visit. Halong City (divided into East HaLong - Hon Gai and West HaLong - Bai Chay) in the North part of Halong Bay has an artificial beach 'Bai Chay Beach’ and a Bai Chai Market to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, gifts, or souvenirs. Amongst islands, Dau Be Island is famous for diving and swimming, Dau Go Island for its large and colourful caves and Fighting Cocks Island for its sunset view when purple-red colour sets across the sky and two large rocks in water appear as two fighting cocks. You can enjoy the top view of islands from seaplane rides as well. To enjoy the quieter part of Halong Bay, visit Lan Ha Bay renounced for white sandy beaches. You can enjoy swimming, rock climbing, sea kayaking, and visit Cai Beo Floating Village.

• Other popular attractions include HaLong Queen Cable Car, Sun World Halong Complex, Stacking Rocks, Tuan Chau Island, Cannon Fort.

8. Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay

Cat Ba Island is one of the most amazing and highly visited Islands connected to HaLong Bay. October is one of the less crowded months in Cat Ba Island and the best to visit if you love monsoon; the average temperature is around 26˚C. Although there are frequent and short-lasting rains in October, cancellation of voyages is rare. Also, in October, tourists can enjoy the splendid scenery by booking accommodations at low prices.

There are three famous sand beaches- Cat Ba 1, 2, and 3, enjoy the time under the sun or swim in the water. If you want to explore caves, visit Surprise Caves to enjoy the colorful atmosphere, Hospital Cave to learn how this secret hospital functioned during the Vietnamese War, Trung Tran Cave. There’s Cat Ba Island Resort which offers a water park and spa centers. Cat Ba National Park is home to native Cat Ba Langur, 1500 plant species, and over 280 fauna species, commonly seen mammals include civet, deer, macaques, and squirrels. Apart from going on a cruise and enjoying the beach, visitors can take part in Yoga Classes which is a popular activity here. To experience the raw culture of Cat Ba visit Viet Hai Village.

• Other popular attractions include Dinh Lagu Lam, Cat Ba Archipelago, Monkey Island.

Da Lat, a city in Central Vietnam is recognized as a garland of flowers where the average temperature remains 23-degree celsius in October. Travelers get to enjoy the pleasant weather with light drizzling, adorning flowers everywhere. 

Da Lat showcases French Colonial times which can be explored in Colonial Palaces - Da Lat Palace I, II, III. Truc Lam Temple - Zen Buddhist Temple and Linh Phuoc Pagoda are the best places to adore the art along with worshipping. Get crazy in the Crazy House, a guest house with weirdly interstitial architecture. Natural beauty can’t be skipped in Da Lat, route your tour towards Datanla Waterfall, Valley of Love, Clay Tunnel, Elephant Waterfalls, Xuan Huong Lake. Not just this, the city offers specialized gardens - Dalat Flowers Garden, Zoodoo Garden, Giant Pumpkin Garden, Lavender DaLat Garden, Maple Leaf Garden. There’s plentiful flowers, fruits, fruit candies, coffee beans, vegetables to buy from DaLat central market. DaLat is a magnet for photographers to capture the flowery surroundings and spectrum cloudy sky.

• Other popular attractions include Dalat Railway Station, Clay Tunnel of DaLat, Smurf Village, Dalat Heaven Gate, Prenn Waterfall.

10. Ho Chi Minh City

In the Southern part of Vietnam, Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in the country. Travellers visit here every year majorly for diverse cuisine, magnetic nightlife, french architecture, and fascinating skyscrapers. This major city offers spectacular enjoyment spots - Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Chu Chi Tunnel, and Buddhist Cultural Theme Park. Hit ‘Ban Than Market’, ‘Binh Tay Market’, ‘An Thong Market’ for shopping. The night is alive in Saigon through rooftop bars, lush nightclubs, casinos, music bars, and Ben Thanh Night Market. 

• Other popular attractions include Artinus 3D Art Museum, September 23rd Park, Tao Dan Park, Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, Cao Dai Temple.

11. Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc Island lies in Southwest Vietnam apart from the mainland. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam with its international airport. October is the beginning of peak tourist season in Phu Quoc as rains fade away and the beaches dazzle in the sunlight.

There are four major beaches - Bai Sao (silky white sand beach with starfishes spotted in crystal water), Hon Xuong Beach (white sandy small beach, perfect for snorkeling), Starfish Beach (white sand beach with floating eateries, red sea starfish being a picturesque) and Bai Truong also known as Long Beach. Long Beach is the main stop-spot for visitors because of the yellow sand, sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and beach massage. Apart from this, there is Phu Quoc National Park and Suoi Trang Waterfall which offer the perfect time for camping, trekking. 

The island is distributed in three different parts, out of which the downtown Duong Dong is highly visited for shopping. Duong Dong offers Duong Dong Market and Dinh Cau Night Market from where travelers can buy souvenirs, pearls, funky jewellery, and eat delicious seafood. Do not go back from Phu Quoc without buying the world's best fish sauce and Vietnam’s tastier black pepper.

• Other popular attractions include Vinpearl Safari, Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park, Trúc Lam Ho Quoc Zen Monastery.

12. Can Tho

Can Tho is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. Famous for its floating market, Can Tho has a temperature around 31 degrees celsius in October when nights can be warm and sticky nevertheless it's a good month for travelling. Different-sized boats are adorned with vibrant flowers and fresh fruits in Cai Rang floating market. Some of the tropical fruits include dragon fruit, durian, jackfruit, pomelo. So, if you are a vegetarian or a botany lover, this is a place to visit in August.

Can Tho Bridge, Mai Khanh tourist village, Bang Lang Stork Garden are some of the outdoor attractions. The city also offers historic art displays at Binh Thuy ancient house and Can Tho Museum. Can Tho has tremendous sites of worshipping - Nam Nha Pagoda, Binh Thuy Temple, Quang Duc Pagoda. 

• Other popular attractions include Kai Khe Market, Phong Dien Floating Market, Can Tho Cathedral, Ninh Kieu Park, Luu Huu Phuoc Park.

This post was published by Navyaa Bhardwaj

Share this post on social media Facebook Twitter

Vietnam Travel Packages

Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free

Vietnam Package Tour 7 Days: With Excursion to Mekong Delta

Best of vietnam holiday package including halong bay cruise.

Explore Vietnam Holiday Trip with Halong Bay Cruise

Experience the Best of Vietnam - 11 Nights 12 Days

7 Days Package Trip to Vietnam: Free Water Puppet Theatre

Luxury Vietnam Honeymoon: 7 Nights Blissful Package Deal

Related articles.

Experiences

Vietnam in June - Weather, Temperature, Things to Do

Vietnam in Winter - Weather, Festivals & Best Places to Visit

10 Spas in Vietnam to Rejuvenate Your Weary Soul

Travel Tips

Basic Phrases in Vietnamese

Cycling in Vietnam: Best Places in Vietnam For An Ultimate Experience!

10 Places for Trekking and Hiking In Vietnam for Adventure Junkies

Travel Tips To Vietnam That You Must Keep in Mind

Vietnamese Visa For Indians - A Complete Guide

Airports in Vietnam: A Guide to Fast-travel Across the Country

Art & Culture

Explore the Unique Vietnamese Art of Water Puppetry!

Trekking in Vietnam - Explore the Enchanting Landscape

Currency Of Vietnam - Vietnamese Dong Exchange, ATMs and Useful Tips

32 Facts About Vietnam That Is Sure To Intrigue You

Beaches & Islands

Snorkelling in Vietnam: 6 Destinations and Beaches You Shouldn't Miss

Backpacking

Backpacking in Vietnam - A Complete Guide

Online Visa for Vietnam - Procedures, Fees, Eligibility Criteria

Top 8 Cruises in Vietnam - Cruise Along Your Vacation

20 Beautiful Golf Courses in Vietnam for The True Golf Lovers

Smoking in Vietnam - What to Know Before Lighting that Bud

Mangoes in Vietnam - Tropical Vietnamese Variety and their Uses

Safety in Vietnam - 8 Tips for a Safe and Memorable Vacation

Surfing in Vietnam - 7 Best Beaches & Operators For Surfing

Camping in Vietnam - 9 Best Campsites For The Perfect Adventure

Bikini Airline Vietjet Launching In India Soon

Take the Most Unforgettable Tour of Vietnam with This 7-Day Tour

Vietnam in January - Weather, Best Places and Festivals

Fairs & Festivals

Vietnam in February - Weather, Best Places and Festivals

Vietnam in March - Your Guide to Weather, Best Places and Festivals

Vietnam in April - Weather, Best Places, Events and Festivals

Sightseeing

Vietnam in May - Weather, Events and Festivals, Best Places to Visit

Comments on this post

Browse package collections, vietnam package collections.

Vietnam Honeymoon Packages

Cambodia Vietnam Tour Packages

Top Listed Packages

Jewels of Cambodia and Vietnam Tour Package With Cruise

Vietnam Itinerary 5 Days with Excursion to Ninh Binh

Vietnam Itinerary 8 Days: With Golden Sand Dunes in Mui Ne

Vietnam Itinerary 6 Days: Best of Northern Vietnam

Vietnam Itinerary 4 Days - Hanoi and Halong Bay

Browse Hotel Collections

By hotel type.

Best Resorts in Vietnam

Amazing Villas in Vietnam for the Perfect Family Vacation

Quirky Capsule Hotels in Vietnam

Beautiful Homestays in Vietnam for a Cosy Vacation

By Budget Category

Luxury Hotels in Vietnam that Redefine Class and Comfort

Luxury Resorts in Vietnam

By Star Category

5 Star hotels in Vietnam for a Luxurious Getaway

For Special Purposes

Best Beach Resorts in Vietnam

Top Places in Vietnam

Get the best offers on Travel Packages

Compare package quotes from top travel agents

Compare upto 3 quotes for free

• India (+91)

*Final prices will be shared by our partner agents based on your requirements.

Log in to your account

Welcome to holidify.

Forget Password?

Share this page

Vietnam Weather in October

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice
• Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

We wanted to write and commend one of your tour guides - Nina, who has spent to days with us in Bangkok, staying along the river. Nina is the most professi...

The weather in Vietnam in October is an amazing combination of transitional characteristics. This month offers travellers a variety of weather conditions throughout the country, providing ample opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation.

What is the weather like in Vietnam in October?

Is vietnam warm in october, is october a good time to visit vietnam, average rainfall in october, ready for your dream trip to vietnam in october, what to do in vietnam in october, visit vietnam in other months, tailor-made travel itineraries for vietnam, created by local experts.

10 days  / from 2150 USD

Vietnam Culinary Discovery

Vietnamese cuisine can be divided into three categories, each pertaining to a specific region, namely the North, Centre and South. You will visit all of these on this culinary tour of Vietnam. Awaken all of your senses to the wonderful sights, sounds and aromas of this fascinating country.

16 days  / from 2150 USD

Very Vietnam

Vietnam is full of surprises, seamlessly mixing both ancient and modern. See rice paddies, traditional villages, markets, temples and pagodas. Discover romantic cities, cruise around mystical Halong Bay, laze on pristine beaches and get out and about in exuberant Ho Chi Minh City.

4 days  / from 550 USD

Cultural Saigon

Southern Vietnam is home to modern Ho Chi Minh City, a vibrant southern capital full of historic attraction and old Saigonese charm. Soak up some café culture, enjoy authentic street food, and get a taste of the city’s thriving markets.

Tailor-made trips for   Vietnam

The weather in Vietnam in October observes different weather conditions in different regions due to the diversity of its geographical location.

October marks the transition from the rainy season to the cooler and drier autumn months in the north of the country. Humidity continues to decrease and temperatures become more pleasant. Daytime temperatures range between 20-28°C (68-82°F) and nights become cooler.

• North Vietnam: The weather in North Vietnam starts to transition from summer to autumn in September. The region experiences a decrease in rainfall and more stable weather patterns. Daytime temperatures typically range from 25-31°C (77-88°F), offering a comfortable climate for outdoor activities and exploration
• Central Vietnam: The weather conditions in Central Vietnam are improving. Rainfall decreases significantly and the region experiences warm and pleasant temperatures. Daytime temperatures range from 24-30°C (75-86°F), making this an ideal time for beach holidays and historical sightseeing.
• South Vietnam: In the south of the country, the transition from wet season to dry season continues. Although it may still rain occasionally, the total amount of rainfall decreases. Daytime temperatures range from 24 to 31°C (75-88°F) and humidity becomes more acceptable.

Planning a trip to Vietnam? Check our Vietnam itineraries or talk to our local experts.

Sapa, Vietnam @ Shutterstock

The weather in Vietnam in October is warm, especially in the central and southern regions. Although temperatures may vary from region to region, this month generally has a pleasant climate for travellers. In northern areas such as Hanoi , Halong Bay and Sapa , October is the beginning of autumn, which brings milder conditions, unlike the preceding summer months.

The central areas of Vietnam such as Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An have a comfortable and warm atmosphere. It is an ideal time for outdoor activities and sightseeing in the region.

In the southern parts of the country, such as Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta , October marks the transition from the wet season to the dry season. Although the heat persists, the humidity gradually decreases, creating a more favourable climate.

Keep in mind that the perception of warmth can be affected not only by temperature factors but also by humidity levels and planned activities. It is advisable to bring suitable clothing to ensure comfort during your stay in Vietnam.

Set on taking a trip this autumn? Discover more of the best places to visit in October .

Hoi An, Vietnam @ Shutterstock

October is a favourable time to visit Vietnam, with some factors to consider. The weather in Vietnam in October is generally comfortable, making this month an attractive month for travelling.

One of the advantages of visiting Vietnam in October is the reduced crowds of tourists in popular tourist destinations. With the peak tourist season behind us, you can expect a more relaxed and less busy travelling experience. In addition, the past rainy season favours lush landscapes, creating picturesque scenery, especially in places like Sapa and Halong Bay.

However, it is important to note that October is a transitional period. Although the weather tends to become more favourable, sporadic rainfall is still possible, especially early in the month. At this time, the weather varies from region to region: while the weather is generally favourable in the central and northern parts of the country, humidity and occasional rains persist in southern areas such as Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Not quite sure when to go? See our guides to the Vietnam weather in September or Vietnam in November .

Limestone outcrops in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The average rainfall in Vietnam in October varies depending on the country's climate.

The weather in Vietnam in October marks the transition from the rainy season to the drier autumn months in the north of the country. Average rainfall decreases significantly compared to previous months. Monthly averages can range from 81 mm (3.21 inches).

In October, Central Vietnam experiences improved weather conditions with a significant decrease in rainfall. Monthly averages range from 100 to 300 mm (4 to 12 inches).

The transition from the wet season to the dry season continues in the southern regions. Rainfall decreases, but occasional showers are still possible. Monthly averages can range from 100 to 250 mm (4 to 10 inches).

Make sure to read all about and the best time to visit Vietnam .

Long Beach in Phu Quoc, Vietnam @ Shutterstock

Our tailor-made trip service allows you to go on the trip of your dreams without the planning or hassle. All of our planned itineraries are created by Vietnam local travel experts and can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

• Vietnam and Laos - Highlights and Exploration (14 days): Start your trip in Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) and explore the city and the Mekong Delta. From here, you make your way to Central Vietnam with Hue and Hoi An before Hanoi and Halong Bay await. Afterwards, catch a flight to Laos and spend your remaining nights in fascinating Luang Prabang.
• Vietnam for Families (12 days): Travelling with family? Explore the best areas of Vietnam with suitable activities for the whole family. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are of course part of it, and so is Halong Bay, a boat tour in the Mekong Delta, as well as the beautiful ancient town of Hoi An.
• Vietnam for Romantics (14 days): Planning a special trip with your beloved? Vietnam is the ideal mix of culture (Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City) paired with nature (Halong Bay, Mekong Delta) and ending the trip on picturesque Phu Quoc - crystal clear water and white sandy beaches included!

Want to see more options to choose from? Discover all of our Vietnam itineraries .

Saigon River and Ho Chi Minh downtown © Pixabay

In October, Vietnam offers a range of destinations worth including in your travel plans. Visit the capital city of Hanoi and explore historical sights, local markets and a variety of culinary delights.

Head to the Sapa region and stroll through rice paddies surrounded by lush greenery.

The weather in Vietnam in October also allows you to enjoy Vietnamese beaches. The weather improves in the beach city of Nha Trang and you can relax on its beaches, indulge in water activities and explore the nearby islands. The tropical paradise island of Phu Quoc with clear waters and pleasant temperatures is a great place for beach lovers.

In central Vietnam, the towns of Hue and Hoi An, both offer a rich variety of activities, while Da Nang offers some beautiful beaches ideal for relaxing and unwinding.

If you've chosen southern Vietnam as your destination, head to vibrant Ho Chi Minh City and experience its exciting nightlife and don't miss out on a boat trip along the famous Mekong Delta.

Related articles from the blog

The Rough Guides to Vietnam and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Travel advice for Vietnam

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Vietnam

• Crime and personal safety tips Vietnam
• Eating and drinking in Vietnam
• Getting around Vietnam: Transportation Tips
• How to get to Vietnam
• Travel Health Vietnam
• Shopping tips for Vietnam
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Vietnam
• Travel Tips Vietnam for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Vietnam
• Vietnam Weather in September
• Vietnam Weather in November
• Vietnam Weather in June
• Vietnam Weather in July
• Vietnam Weather in December
• Vietnam Weather in August
• Vietnam Weather in January
• Vietnam Weather in February
• Vietnam weather in March
• How to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay
• How To Get From Hanoi To Da Nang
• How to get from Hanoi to Sapa
• Vietnam Weather in April
• How to get a Vietnam visa

Find even more inspiration here

• Nature & Wildlife
• History Culture Heritage

written by Olga Sitnitsa

updated 06.12.2023

Online editor at Rough Guides, specialising in travel content. Passionate about creating compelling stories and inspiring others to explore the world.

Ready to travel and discover Vietnam?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Travel Destinations

Best Time to Visit Vietnam: A Complete Guide

Published: October 13, 2020

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Rina Bernardo

• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Guide
• Travel Tips
• Vietnam Travel

With its floating markets, stunning natural landscapes, and rich culture, Vietnam is a must-visit destination in Southeast Asia. Every year, the country welcomes millions of visitors and last year, 18 million tourists visited Vietnam, proof that it is one of the most beautiful countries in Asia. It is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it a perfect destination that balances culture and nature. Now that you know that Vietnam is a must-visit country, you’re probably asking, “when is the best time to visit Vietnam?”

If you’re planning to visit Hạ Long Bay or if you want to sink your teeth into delicious pho and other Vietnamese food , continue reading! Here’s everything you need to know about Vietnam’s weather, travel seasons, and festivals you shouldn’t miss.

Where Is Vietnam?

Photo by Tran Phu on Unsplash

Vietnam is an S-shaped country in Southeast Asia and on the easternmost area of the Indochinese Peninsula. It is located in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres just below the Tropic of Cancer. 

It is bordered by China on its north, Cambodia and Laos on its west, and the South China Sea on its east and south. The Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam) is found on its southwest border. Additionally, China’s island of Hainan Dao is on the northeastern side of Vietnam.

What’s the Weather and Climate Like in Vietnam?

Photo by sasint on Pixabay

Because of its long and narrow shape, Vietnam’s weather is dependent on its three regions: the North, Central, and South regions. Each of the regions experiences different weather and climate situations. For example, there can be snow in the far north, but sunny days in the beaches of the southern region.

North Vietnam

North Vietnam includes Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, Hạ Long Bay, and more. These areas experience four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Winter in these areas occurs from November to March, spring in April, summer from May to September, and fall in October. Additionally, spring and fall are the transition months.

The northern regions of Vietnam have cold and cool winds due to the northeast monsoon during winter and has warm to hot wet season. The average temperature ranges from 5°C to 6°C in winter to up to 35°C in summer. Generally speaking, the further to the north the area is, the colder it gets. Some areas in the farther north regions experience below zero temperature. The hottest month for this area is July while the wettest month is September.

Central Vietnam

Cities in Central Vietnam include Hoi An , Da Nang, Hue, Dalat, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, and more. Generally, Central Vietnam weather is a combination of the weather in the north and south regions. 

These areas of Vietnam experience hot and dry weather from January to late August or early September. During these months, temperatures can reach up to mid-30°C and there is little to no rainfall. On the other hand, rainfall increases from October to December. In some instances, heavy rainfall leads to typhoons, especially in November. 

South Vietnam

While North Vietnam experiences four distinct seasons, South Vietnam, on the other hand, only has two seasons: wet and dry. Some of the popular cities and destinations in South Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh City , Mekong Delta, Mui Ne, and Ho Tram. The wet season occurs from March to October, while the dry season lasts from November to April. 

During the dry season, South Vietnam’s temperature can reach up to 33°C, with April being the hottest month. Rainfall occurs most especially during May to October but often occurs late in the afternoon. Heavy downpour also occurs, however, these are short. Additionally, there are high levels of rainfall from June to September. The best time to visit Vietnam in the south is normally from December to May when the weather is cool and dry.

Vietnam Weather by Month

Photo by Toomas Tartes on Unsplash

January is the coldest month of the year in mountainous areas like Sapa; while in the south, it is in the dry season. If you’re visiting the northern areas, expect lower temperatures and even rare chances of snowfall. This may not be the best time to visit Ha Long Bay since mist and haze can obstruct your view of the limestones. However, this is a good opportunity to go hiking in the mountains.

If you’re looking to escape the cold breeze of winter, South Vietnam is the perfect destination. Cruises along the Mekong Delta and Red River are perfect during this time because of the warmer weather. Since January marks the last few months of the dry season, this is also a good time to explore cities like Ho Chi Minh. You can also visit the beaches and go diving in Phu Quoc.

The best time to visit Vietnam if you want to experience a festive atmosphere is in February. In North Vietnam, the temperature is much cooler but the days are sunny and bright. Fog can hinder your views of Ha Long Bay still, but conditions are perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and trekking. 

In Central Vietnam, February offers pleasant and warm temperatures. This is the best time to visit Vietnam beaches between Hoi An and Da Nang because of the warm water. 

Meanwhile, in Southern Vietnam, there is plenty of sunshine during this month and you can definitely feel the festive environment in the city. With its sunny weather, you can freely explore the streets of Ho Chi Minh and sample the best Vietnamese dishes.

When it comes to weather, March is arguably the best time to visit Vietnam! Enjoy warm temperatures and clear skies no matter your destination. The month is not as cold or as dry as the first months in the north, and this is a good time to visit Ha Long Bay. Weather conditions are also good for exploring the highlands and mountains.

On the other hand, southern and central areas can still enjoy dry and warm weather. March is also the best time to visit Da Lat, Nha Trang, and its neighboring cities in Central Vietnam. Additionally, it is also the best month to visit Ho Chi Minh City and explore the famous Binh Tay Market. Take note that beaches and resorts in South and Central Vietnam tend to be crowded with tourists and locals during this month.

Vietnam weather in April tends to lead towards the dry season, with North Vietnam experiencing less cold days. Temperatures will also start to rise in the country. In the northern regions, outdoor activities like hiking and biking are still ideal. Do take note that rain can be common during the last days of the month. In some areas, you can see colorful spring flowers in bloom.

On the other hand, its central and southern areas still enjoy blue skies and sunshine. You may also notice the crowds getting thicker since there is pleasant weather throughout the country. This is also a good time to visit Central Vietnam cities like Hoi An, with Nha Trang at its best weather. There may be chances of rainfall in South Vietnam, but coastal areas remain ideal for beachgoers.

May is another best time to visit Vietnam since prices are lower compared to April. In North Vietnam, temperatures start to rise and are starting to see more cases of rainfall in the afternoon. Other than that, it’s still a good time to visit and explore the area.

Central Vietnam is the most ideal place to be during this month with its sunny weather a great alternative to South Vietnam’s wetter one. The country’s beaches are still a popular destination, especially those in Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. In South Vietnam, rain starts to pour but not as frequently as in the north. Take note that it can get very humid in May so make sure to pack light clothes and bring plenty of water. 

June marks the start of the rainy season in Vietnam, most common in the northern and southern regions. Outdoor activities are discouraged in the mountainous regions of North Vietnam due to regular rainfall and thunderstorms. There may be warnings for landslides and flash floods, so June isn’t the best time to visit Vietnam in the north. 

Like North Vietnam, South Vietnam experiences daily rainfall, but this occurs usually in the later afternoon. This is also the middle of the wet season in the area. On the other hand, Central Vietnam is still perfect for visiting the beach and still has plenty of dry hours. There is little to no rain in the area, and it is a good time to visit the beaches of Hoi An. 

Vietnam weather in July is similar to the weather in June, with Central Vietnam having the most pleasant weather in the country. Although the average temperature in the north reaches up to 30°C, the region is still prone to frequent rain and thunderstorms. Trekking and other activities in the mountains are still unadvisable especially in Hanoi as July is the wettest month.

The average temperature in Central Vietnam is at 31ºC, but it is still an ideal destination. Despite the summer heat, there is little rain. Da Lat and other areas in the Central Highlands are prone to a higher volume of rain, so it’s best to avoid these areas. South Vietnam is in the middle of its wet season, so expect daily rainfall especially in the Mekong Delta. Despite the downpour, you can still enjoy bright and sunny days in South Vietnam.

Temperatures in Vietnam for August remain high, but frequent rains can cool down the heat. This month is also the peak rainy month for North Vietnam, so it’s best to avoid the mountain areas because of possible landslides and flooding. Visiting Ha Long Bay and going on boat tours during this season is also highly discouraged.

Meanwhile, Central Vietnam still experiences pleasant yet rainy weather. This is also the best time to visit Vietnam’s central regions, especially Nha Trang. Storms and rain showers are more common during the last days of the month so expect some activities to be unavailable. Expect more rainfall in the southern area, heavier than in the previous months. August is also not the best time to visit the Mekong Delta because of the flooding.

North Vietnam will start to see a decrease in rainfall towards the end of the month. Weather conditions improve, making it possible for trekking and hiking. The average temperature falls at 28°C and drops as October approaches. This is also the best month to visit the rice fields of Mu Cang Chai.

September is the last month to catch sunny skies in Central Vietnam before the rainy season starts. The temperature will start to drop and storms are more likely to occur in the last days of the month. Attractions like Phong Nha Cave may be closed due to the flooding. Like North Vietnam, rainfall will start to decrease in South Vietnam, and although the temperature still remains high, expect some days of bright daylight.

October is the best time to visit Vietnam in the north, with its weather conditions perfect for trekking in Sapa and exploring Mai Chau Valley. Expect clear skies, less rainfall, and lower temperature in the region as well. 

In Central Vietnam, October is the peak rainy season so it may be difficult to navigate around the area. Hoi An is prone to severe flooding, so it’s best to avoid visiting the city during this month. South Vietnam’s weather also improves, and it is a good time to visit the Mekong Delta after its flooding season. Rainfall also decreases and average temperature ranges between 24-31°C.

Temperate weather makes it good to visit North and South Vietnam. At an average temperature of 24°C, expect low humidity with a significant decrease in rainfall. You can also go trekking in Sapa or explore the regions of Ha Giang. November is also the best month to visit the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay.

Unlike its northern counterpart, Central Vietnam is still in its rainy season and heavy storms may occur. Hoi An is still prone to flooding and the riptides in Da Nang are dangerous. However, in the Central Highlands and Da Lat in particular, there are clear skies and little rainfall. Summer starts in South Vietnam so expect warm weather. Beaches and islands in the south offer warm waters and sunny skies, perfect for summer activities.

December is one of the driest months of the year in North Vietnam, but temperatures can drop at night. Snowfall occurs every now and then so make sure to pack layers of clothing especially if you’re heading up to the mountainous areas. Outdoor activities are perfect during this month due to the moderate temperature.

Central Vietnam still experiences stormy weather in the first days of December, but this decreases as the days pass. The average temperature is about 24°C, although there is more rain in Hue than in Hoi An. Beach season is also starting to resume in South Vietnam, especially in the Côn Đảo and Phú Quốc islands. If you are planning to visit Vietnam in December, South Vietnam is the best choice.

Vietnam Travel Seasons

Photo by ThuyHaBich on Pixabay

Like all countries, Vietnam has seasons where plenty of visitors visit, and seasons with fewer visitors. Here’s everything you need to know about Vietnam’s travel seasons so you can plan accordingly.

High Season

Vietnam’s high season is from December to March, offering the most comfortable weather. The humidity isn’t at its peak yet so you won’t have to worry about excessive sweating. You can also attend different festivals including the popular Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebration, in January or February.

The high season often has the best weather conditions and you can see Vietnam’s beauty at its peak. Almost all tourism services and tours are available during this time as well. Since this season has the best weather and tourism conditions, expect that there will be more tourists. Most accommodations will be fully booked by this time, so make sure to plan and book ahead if you plan on traveling during this time.

Shoulder Season

April to August is Vietnam’s shoulder season, with warm to humid temperatures in the country. The days are hotter than the high season, but still bearable no matter your destination. Expect blue skies and fewer clouds, although June marks the start of the rainy season in North and South Vietnam.

Shoulder season brings fewer tourists, although not as few as during the low season. Hotels are also priced cheaper and since there are less tourists, you can book them at the last minute. Take note that the high temperature can be unbearable for tourists and since the rainy season is approaching, sudden downpours can occur.

From September to November, Vietnam experiences a low tourist season. This mainly due to the weather situation in both Central and South Vietnam. Meanwhile, in North Vietnam, there is less rainfall and conditions are perfect for outdoor activities. 

During the low season, you may be able to score cheaper accommodation and tour rates. Because there are fewer people at most tourist attractions, you can plan at the last minute. On the other hand, the low season often coincides with difficult weather conditions. There are cases where some sites will be closed due to the weather. 

When Is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam?

Photo by Giau Tran on Unsplash

If you plan to visit most regions in Vietnam, September to December and March to April are the best times to visit. Otherwise, each region has different favorable times to visit.

If you plan on visiting Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and the northern areas of Sapa, consider visiting from March to April. You can also plan your visit from September to November when weather conditions are suitable for trekking. From March to April, you’ll get a tranquil atmosphere, perfect for either heading to the mountains or going for a boat cruise in Ha Long Bay. You can also catch the stunning spring blooms at Moc Chau or visit Cuc Phuong National Park in these months.

September to November boasts the most pleasant temperature in Northern Vietnam, with cool and dry breeze all around. The weather is cold, but not like in winter. This is also the perfect time to visit the Old Quarter and French Quarter in Hanoi, speckled with vibrant fall foliage. You can also visit Ha Long Bay without the thick crowds unlike in spring.

Take note that March and April are the peak months for travelers, so visit in the latter half of the year if you want less tourists.

The best time to visit Vietnam’s central region is from February to May when the weather is pleasant and warm. There are less chances of rain and the weather is perfect for either sightseeing or visiting the beach. The UNESCO World Heritage -listed city of Hoi An is especially beautiful from February through the early days of July, so be sure to visit within this window.

Central Vietnam experiences rainy weather until February, so this is the best season to start hitting the beaches. Make sure to avoid visiting Central Vietnam from August to November since this is the rainy season. Flooding may also cause an issue and water levels rise between these months. 

Since this is the peak tourist season, make sure to book hotel accommodations and activities ahead. That way, you can secure better rates and avoid missing out on tours and excursions.

The best time to visit Vietnam in the south is from December to April. Unlike North Vietnam with its four seasons, South Vietnam only has dry and wet seasons, making it easier for one to find the best time to visit. The dry season offers warm and sunny weather, and during this time visitors flock to Mekong Delta and the nearby beaches. You can also explore Ho Chi Minh and visit religious sites and neighboring flower villages.

The average temperature during this time can reach up to 40°C, which can be unbearable for some travelers. From June onwards, South Vietnam will get plenty of rain and humid weather. During monsoon season, flooding can occur which can be difficult to predict. As a safer option, avoid traveling during the wet season. 

Vietnam Festivals Breakdown

Photo by mailanmaik on Pixabay

Tết festival.

Frequency: Annually in either January or February Best place to celebrate: Hanoi

The Tết Festival, officially called Tết Nguyên Đán, is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration. This is also arguably the most popular and widely celebrated festival in the country, held in either January or February. Tết Festival marks the start of spring and the start of the new lunar calendar. Families gather together and the streets are filled with red and gold decorations and the scent of incense. Join the Tết festivities in Hanoi and witness the colorful fireworks from a rooftop bar, or mingle with the locals at a street party.

Hue Festival

Frequency: Every two years in either April, May, or June Best place to celebrate: Hue

Hue’s festival celebrates the city’s history as the former capital city. Although it’s a relatively new festival, first celebrated in 2000, it quickly became one of the country’s most popular celebrations. During the Hue Festival, various events happen at venues around the city including calligraphy exhibitions, kite flying, boat racing, and more. The festival also includes reenactments of historical events and royal ceremonies, giving you a glimpse of Hue’s culture and heritage.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Frequency: Annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month Best place to celebrate: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh

Mid-Autumn Festival, locally known as Tết Trung Thu, is an annual celebration that is a favorite among children. Weeks before the celebration, you’ll find lion dancers practicing on the streets and colorful lanterns and masks start to fill the city’s markets. Main activities include worshipping the God of the Earth, lion dance parades, and carrying carp-shaped lanterns on the streets. If you’re visiting Vietnam during this festive period, don’t miss the chance to sample mooncakes, traditional cakes filled with lotus seeds.

Hoi An Lantern Festival

Frequency: Monthly on the 14th day of each lunar month Best place to celebrate: Hoi An

See colorful lanterns along Hoi An’s streets during the monthly lantern festival. The Hoi An Lantern Festival celebrates the full moon, one of the most important times in the Buddhist calendar. At night, most of the city lights are turned off, so the floating lanterns illuminate the river. As you stroll past the idyllic town, find different street performances and poetry readings along the river. You can also release a lantern into the river and go on a picturesque sampan (Vietnamese traditional canoe) ride.

Ghost Festival

Frequency: Annually on the 15th night of the 7th lunar month Best place to celebrate: Hue

During the Ghost Festival or the Wandering Souls Day, locals believe that spirits of their ancestors and deceased loved ones are able to visit their homes. Additionally, it is also the same day where ghosts with no families also roam around can only be fed. If they are hungry, they might cause trouble. That being said, families perform prayer rituals and offer food, clothes, and other items to appease these souls. 

Visit the Land of the Ascending Dragon!

Because of Vietnam’s narrow S-shape location, its weather depends on its three regions. The north experiences four distinct seasons while its southern and central counterparts have a more tropical one. That being said, the best time to visit Vietnam entirely depends on where you are going. If you plan on visiting North Vietnam, March to April and September to November are the best months to visit. February to May is the best time to visit Central Vietnam while December to April is the best time to visit South Vietnam.

Ready to visit Vietnam? Get your Vietnam visa and uncover the beauty of this Southeast Asian destination!

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

• [email protected]
• +84 906 38 8847

Vietnam In October: Travel Tips, Weather & Places To Visit

• March 7, 2023
• ftripvietnam

Vietnam in October is one of those halfway months where it’s not considered the best time to visit Vietnam and the best month to travel in Vietnam compared to other months. However, you can still have a great time in most provinces with affordable accommodations and other services.

Vietnam weather in October

The rains are finally departing Vietnam – well, almost everywhere. With the weather in Vietnam , the North and the South dries out and takes a breather. As Central Vietnam gets its turn under the dark clouds because the monsoon season hits its peak there but it doesn’t sound that hopeless. Apart from the possibility of having some storms come over, Central Vietnam is still a “can’t-miss” destination.

You can refer more to Vietnam Holiday Packages with Best Vietnam Tour Packages 17 days , 2 week Vietnam itinerary , Vietnam 12 day itinerary , 9 days in Vietnam itinerary , 3 week Vietnam itinerary and Vietnam 1 week itinerary before taking a trip with Vietnam travel guide .

Crowds & Costs

The further into October it gets, the more crowded Vietnam becomes. As people take advantage of the nice, sunny days in most of the country. Flight tickets may be cheap, but accommodations are less so. Luckily, the beaches of Southern Vietnam aren’t overly crowded yet.

A Detailed Guide to Traveling in Vietnam during Tet holiday

Where to go in Vietnam in October

Vietnam in October is the end of fall and the start of winter in Ha Giang. Making it one of the best time to visit North Vietnam . Pack warmly and layer up, as the temperature may get hot around noon but plummets with nightfall. This season, the province is adorned by beautiful, vast fields of purple buckwheat flowers. A cover crop for the locals until they were able to plant rice again. You can have the best time to visit Ha Giang Vietnam with the Ha Giang Loop tour (3 days and 2 nights) by car or motorcycle to marvel at the deep canyons, imposing mountains, and clear blue skies.

Mu Cang Chai

In Mu Cang Chai, however, rice is just beginning to ripen. The terraced rice fields drape the mountains in a green coat that gradually shifts to gold, in an unforgettable sight. Book your accommodation at a homestay and enjoy a cozy time with friendly local families who will treat you to delicious authentic food from the ethnic communities that you might be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. You can also relax in a herbal bath invented by the Dao community to take your aches and pains away from hiking (or perching on a speeding motorbike). Also, you can travel to some places near here like Lung Cu flag tower , Hoang Su Phi , Quan Ba heaven gate ,…

Buon Ma Thuot

If you’re traveling to Buon Ma Thuot any time between May and the end of Vietnam in October . Pack warmly, bring your rain gear, mosquito repellant. And sturdy, anti-slip boots protect you from the wet red basalt soil. Watch your speed – many locals let their domestic animals roam free and you wouldn’t want to cause a traffic accident. Visit the Dak Lak Museum to learn more about this land of elephants and coffee. That is alongside the vast diversity of its ethnic groups. (Buon Me Thuot in particular and Dak Lak province in general is a leading worldwide exporter of coffee so strong it could practically stand up and beat you with the cup).

When Is The Best Time To Visit Danang Vietnam : Weather & Temperature?

What to do in Vietnam in October

Explore dong van karst plateau geopark.

In 2010, UNESCO recognized the Dong Van Karst Plateau as a Global Geopark. So, Dong Van Karst Plateay Geopark is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam . In addition to its unique and stunning scenery and array of wildlife. It also was home to 19 groups of valuable ancient organisms. Its 17 ethnic groups (out of Vietnam’s 54 total) bring diversity and color to life among these mountains. Traversing this area can be dangerous with its terrain covered in wickedly sharp rugger rocks (with the misleadingly adorable yet accurate name of Đá Tai Mèo , “cat’s ear rocks”), but a worthwhile experience nevertheless.

13 Best Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam 2023

Visit Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park is the place to be for adventurous souls. Pack light, sweat-absorbent clothing that covers as much of your body as possible to shield you from mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies. Staying overnight in the park allows you to observe nocturnal predators hunt – a thrilling experience! Over 60 rare freshwater crocodile species live in Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake). As for local specialties, don’t forget to try common water hyacinth soup with fish. A celebration of Vietnamese ingenuity, this dish pairs a staple protein with a vegetable commonly considered invasive at worst and useless at best to delicious results. You can find more in South Vietnam 1 week itinerary if you want to take a trip to Cat Tien National Park.

Get to Yok Don National Park

The elephants of Yok Don once were forced to carry visitors and many were mistreated – but steps have been taken since 2018 to remedy this. Now, you can travel with a small tour group to quietly observe them living freely in the wilds, unbothered by humans, and learn about their existence here. If the weather permits (since sudden rains are still the norm here), you can even take a dip in one of the Park’s waterfalls. This National Park, away from the city and its light pollution, is a delightful place to pitch tents beneath the stars and laugh with your friends around the campfire. 

Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

Go to Dray Sap Falls

The Ede people call this waterfall “Smoke Falls” because its water mist resembles smoke. It is a beautiful place and worth a visit (almost all tours to Dak Lak and Buon Me Thuot stop here) but associated with a tragedy: two star-crossed lovers took their lives here, causing the Serepok River to split in agony and wrath, creating the Dray Sap and Dray Nur falls.

Magnificent Da Nang & Hoi An

October Events & Holiday

Don-ta festival.

This is the largest festival for the Khmer Vietnamese people. It’s held annually at the end of the eighth and the start of the ninth lunar month. A fascinating activity in this festival is ox racing, with the participation of 38 pairs of oxen with the bravest and most deft men of the villages. For the largest ox race, travel to the Bay Nui area in An Giang province.

Luang Prabang Travel Guide 2023: Best Thing To Do

Ka-te Festival

During the Kate Festival, the Cham Vietnamese community in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces honor national heroes, ancestors, deities, and long-gone Cham kings. The festivities are held at the Cham temples in those provinces, themselves built to honor the kings. The attendees pay respects to the gods and wish for a peaceful, prosperous future filled with health and wealth.

Mid-Autumn Festival – The Most Famous Festival In Vietnam

Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda Festival

Held in the ancient Keo pagoda in Hanh Thien village with over 400 years of history, the three-day festival honors the monk who founded the pagoda, tamed beasts, flew in the air, walked underwater, and cured an Emperor. There are processions, spiritual dances, ceremonies such as changing clothing for the statues, boat races (concurrently with the processions), and more. However, many traditions have been lost with the times; for example, competitions for drummers and kèn artists (a Vietnamese horn instrument), or for the best speech (the funniest) to pay respects to the gods, are no longer part of the day. 

Top 11 best places to visit in Da Nang Vietnam

Dinh Thay-Thim Festival

The Dinh Thay – Thim Festival has become a long-ingrained tradition and unique cultural quirk of Binh Thuan province. As most Vietnamese holidays do, the festival is divided into two sections: the ritual (lễ) and the celebration (hội). In the former part, there are spiritual events that allow people to pray for their family’s health, happiness, and smooth sailing in business. The celebration is a time to have fun, play games, and let your hair down with performances, games, recitations of stories, martial arts demonstrations, and more. They attract the observation and participation of locals and tourists alike.

Halong Bay Vietnam holiday packages from Hanoi 2023 (Daily Tour)

Vietnam in each month

Learn about detailed weather information for each area in Vietnam for 12 months & seasonal tourist destinations.

FAQs about Vietnam in October

What are the best places to visit in vietnam in october.

Some best places that you can visit in Vietnam in October are Ha Giang, Mu Cang Chai, Buon Ma Thuot, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Cat Tien Nation Park, Yok Don National Park, Dray Sap Falls,…

Is October the rainy season in Vietnam?

No, it isn’t. The rains are finally departing Vietnam – well, almost everywhere. The North and the South can be drier and more pleasant. Apart from the possibility of having some storms come over, Central Vietnam is still a “ca n’t-miss” destination.

We hope you will enjoy your trip to Vietnam in October ! With careful planning, you will be able to curate an experience you won’t soon forget.

Reviewed by

Phone: +84901166884

Email: [email protected]

Founder & Photography Guide

Specialties: Culture, landscape, portrait, hiking, active and adventurous tour

Besides my unlimited passion for traveling, a professional tour guide for over a decade, I have been taking photographs since sitting at Hanoi of the University of Culture in the early 2000s. Photography started as a hobby but it was seriously taken due to my work relations and my significant passion for the beauty of our world, especially in Southeast Asian parts such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Within a few years of taking photographs, my works began to be recognized by many reliable international publications such as AFAR Travel , The Times , and The Daily Telegraph newspaper . In addition, I continuously add to my growing profile by winning numerous major awards: 3rd Position of The Independent Photographer 2018, 1st Position of Amateur Photographer of the year 2018, Grand Prize Winner of the AFAR Travel Photography 2019, and a Gold Award of San Francisco Bay International Photography 2020.

I photograph a wide variety of subjects, from travel to landscapes to street scenes. I enjoy documenting the East’s rich cultural heritage and its land soaked in glorious sunrise or sunset light in remote and secluded spots. And, I am very happy to share my knowledge and experience with you. You can visit Luminousvietnamtour to explore tour!

Related Articles

April 2, 2024

10 cannot miss Vietnam cafe in your lifetime

April 1, 2024

Why must you eat Vietnamese Bun Cha when visiting Hanoi?

101 Guide for Lao New Year Songkran

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Explore the best customized tour packages this 2024!

Ready to plan your trip.

Customized Itinerary | 24/7 support | Local support

When Is the Best Time To Visit Vietnam?

Are you planning a trip to Vietnam? Before you navigate the bustling lanes of Hanoi or drift down the picturesque waters of the Mekong Delta, you'll want to determine the best time to visit. From culture-filled holidays to price considerations and climate preferences, the perfect timing differs with every traveler. So, let's dive into the best time to visit Vietnam for an unforgettable trip.

In this article:

• Vietnam's main tourism seasons
• Navigating Vietnam's monsoon season
• Best time to visit by region
• Best time to visit by month
• Best time to visit for fewer crowds
• Best time to visit for lower prices
• Best time to visit for good weather
• Best time to visit for festivals
• Stay connected with a Vietnam eSIM

Vietnam's Main Tourism Seasons

Your travel can be affected by local events, prices, and crowd sizes. Here's a look at how these change with the seasons.

Peak Season: October to April and July to August

Overall, Vietnam has two peak seasons: October to April and July to August. During this time, the prices rise, and popular attractions can be overcrowded. From October to April, you can expect cool, dry weather ideal for sightseeing. In July and August, you'll get hot, humid weather with a high risk of showers in the north and south.

Low Season: May to June and November to December

The low season brings warm weather and fewer tourists. It's a great time to explore Vietnam without bustling crowds and scorching heat. Prices are also relatively lower during this period.

Navigating Vietnam's Monsoon Season

The monsoon season varies by region. Here's a rough breakdown:

• North Vietnam:  June to August
• Central Vietnam:  September to early November
• South Vietnam:  June to August

Don't let monsoon season deter you! It's a great time of year to see lush, green landscapes and witness dramatic thunderstorms.

Best Time To Visit Vietnam: By Region

With its varied geography, Vietnam has vastly different climates in the northern, central, and southern regions. Here's what to expect from each one.

North Vietnam

Here, you can experience all four seasons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are surprisingly chilly. During the winter (November to April), Hanoi and Sapa are covered in a cool fog, perfect for photographing nature and ancient building silhouettes. If you're visiting Halong Bay, travel between March and June before the hot, crowded summer swoops in. 

Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam typically has a tropical monsoon climate — hot and humid summers with occasional showers and pleasantly warm winters. Here, you'll have picture-perfect beach weather from April to August, with clear skies to explore must-visit spots like Hoi An and Hue. But brace yourself, as the heat peaks during midsummer.

South Vietnam

Heading south, the climate fluctuates between wet and dry. Most of the year is warm, with significant rainfall during the monsoon (June to August). The best time for a rain-free visit to Ho Chi Minh City, the Delta, or the island of Phy Quoc is from October to April. 

Best Time To Visit Vietnam: By Month

Here's a closer look at what to expect month-by-month in Vietnam.

Kick off the new year exploring northern Vietnam! Expect chilly temperatures, especially in Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Sapa. This cool weather is perfect for discovering Hanoi's Old Quarter, attending the Dalat Flower Festival, or venturing into nature at Ba Be National Park and Cao Bang.

February offers warmer temperatures and ample sunshine throughout the country. This month is perfect for hiking, canoeing, or visiting the coastal towns of Hoi An and Hue. Just be mindful that Vietnamese New Year, Tet, usually falls in late January or early February, resulting in busy hotels and some closures.

March promises warm, dry weather, especially in northern and central Vietnam. Experience the vibrant spring colors and explore the countryside, highlands, and national parks. Central coastal areas like Hoi An and Hue become busier as temperatures rise.

April might be the best and most versatile month to visit Vietnam. With mild temperatures across the board, it's a fantastic time to explore both the north and south of the country. Enjoy spring flowers blooming in the countryside and plan a coastal stay in Hue or Hoi An.

As temperatures soar in southern Vietnam, it's the ideal time to visit central coastal regions like Hoi An and Hue. While showers might be expected almost everywhere, the pleasant climate ensures that much of Vietnam remains explorable. 

June sees the monsoon season intensifying in the south, and heavy rains and storms begin in the north. Although conditions are less than favorable for adventure sports and trekking, central Vietnam maintains relatively stable weather for beach lovers.

Central Vietnam's beaches remain popular in July, attracting tourists eager to soak up the sun. However, monsoon season persists in northern and southern Vietnam, limiting outdoor exploration options. Book accommodations in advance, as this is a favored travel period.

August experiences heavy rainfall in the north and south, but central Vietnam remains enjoyable, with mostly sunny days and sporadic showers. Be prepared for potential unpleasant weather in other parts of the country.

In September, the north and south begin to transition out of monsoon season, while rainy weather starts up in central Vietnam. With fewer tourists around, this can be an ideal time to experience Vietnam's cities and countryside.

October brings some of the best weather to southern Vietnam. In the north and central regions, enjoy vibrant harvest scenes, floating markets along the Mekong Delta, and clear skies over Halong Bay.

November offers pleasant temperatures that allow exploration and coastal excursions. Central Vietnam enters a drier period, making it a good time to visit. This month is also great for checking out Ho Chi Minh City and venturing to the Mekong Delta.

December concludes the year with mostly dry conditions, ideal for visiting central and southern Vietnam. The iconic heritage site of Hoi An is a must-see during this time.

Best Time To Visit Vietnam for Fewer Crowds

If you're someone who wants to explore at your own pace without bumping into tourists at every corner, then the shoulder periods of May to June and November to December might be perfect for you. These months are considered the low season, as they fall between the two high seasons. The attractions are significantly less crowded, providing a more intimate experience and plenty of opportunities for unobstructed photos.

Best Time To Visit Vietnam for Lower Prices

Traveling outside the peak season can quite literally pay off. Accommodation prices tend to come down, and you're more likely to bag deals on tours and transport. The low season (May to June and November to December) is also when airlines often offer lower prices to fill flights, so keeping an eye out for these dates can help support that travel budget.

Best Time To Visit Vietnam for Good Weather

With Vietnam's climate being so diverse, "good" weather can mean something different depending on where you plan to go. For sunshine and dry conditions in North Vietnam, the best time to visit is from November to April. South Vietnam is at its sunniest from October to April. Central Vietnam has a split climate, with dry conditions predominant from April to August. Rest assured, the varied weather patterns mean there's always somewhere in Vietnam with excellent weather at any given time.

Best Time To Visit Vietnam for Festivals

For those looking to immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture, you'll want to time your visit with some of the country's vibrant festivals. The biggest of all is Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, occurring in late January to mid-February (double-check the exact date before you travel). Another festival to add to your bucket list is the Hue Festival, held every two years in April, May, or June in the ancient imperial city of Hue. Must-see events include the Hue Poetry Festival, Dialog of Drums and Percussion, and Ao Dai fashion shows.

Stay Connected With an eSIM From Airalo

No matter when you travel, stay connected with an Airalo eSIM. Airalo gives you access to  affordable eSIMs for 200+ countries and regions  — including Vietnam.

Why Airalo ? Here are a few reasons to use an Airalo eSIM when you travel:

• Connect to a mobile network within minutes of arrival.
• Choose from flexible local, regional, and global data plans.
• Eliminate the need to find a local SIM vendor.
• Say goodbye to expensive roaming charges.
• Store multiple eSIM data plans on your device.
• Running out of data? Top up in the Airalo app.

Planning a trip to Vietnam? Get a  Vietnam eSIM  to stay connected during your trip.

Alisha is a Canadian expat based in Portugal. She’s an avid traveler and writes about all things travel and tech for Airalo.

Ready to try eSIMs and change the way you stay connected?

Download the Airalo app to purchase, manage, and top up your eSIMs anytime, anywhere!

Use Your Free Credit.

You can earn US$3 Airmoney credits by sharing your referral code with friends.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam & Wonderful Things to Do There!

There isn't an exact answer to the question of when the best time to visit Vietnam is. It is because Vietnam stretches across many latitudes, so its climates and seasons aren't similar in the whole country. For this reason, we will introduce you to the best time to visit Vietnam according to region, tourist volume seasons, and holidays and explain why.

When is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam by Region

Vietnam is located on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, stretching 1,650km from north to south. Due to its geographical location, the climate varies from region to region, from lowlands to highlands, and from east to west. Depending on the region and the time of visit, tourists can choose suitable destinations.

North Region

Autumn is generally considered the ideal time to visit the North region of Vietnam due to its pleasant weather, beautiful landscapes, and harvest season. However, each season has its charm and attractions, so it's worth considering your interests and priorities when choosing the best time to visit. 

• Spring (January - April) is characterized by mild temperatures from 20-21°C (68-69.8°F), occasional drizzle and quite cold. The landscape becomes lush and colorful as flowers bloom. Recommended places: Hanoi, Sapa (Lao Cai province), Ninh Binh province, Moc Chau (Son La province), etc.
• Summer (May - July) in the North is hot and humid with temperatures from 25-39°C (77-102.2°F), with occasional heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. It's a good time for beach destinations and outdoor activities. Recommended places: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island (Hai Phong province), Ha Giang province, and Sam Son Beach, Ninh Binh province, etc.
• Autumn (August - November) is considered the best time to visit the North region, offering pleasant weather with cooler temperatures from 18-28°C (64.4-82.4°F), lower humidity, and less rainfall. The landscape turns golden as the rice fields ripen. Recommended places: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ha Giang province, Cao Bang province, Moc Chau (Son La province), Ninh Binh province, etc.
• Winter (October - December)  can be chilly and foggy, especially in the mountainous areas. The average temperature falls around 10-20°C (50-68°F). Some regions in the far north may even experience snowfall, creating a unique and beautiful atmosphere. Recommended places: Hanoi, Sapa (Lao Cai province), Ninh Binh province, Moc Chau (Son La province), Cao Bang province, etc

South Region

The South region of Vietnam experiences a tropical climate with two main seasons: dry and rainy seasons. The best season to visit the southern region of Vietnam is also generally during the dry season. This period offers hot and sunny weather, ideal for outdoor activities and beach visits. The rainy season from May to November can still be a good time to visit, with lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but be prepared for occasional heavy rain showers. 

• Dry Season (December - April): during the dry season, the weather is hot and relatively dry. The temperature ranges from 25°C to 35°C (77-95°F). The humidity is lower compared to the rainy season, and rainfall is minimal. The region experiences plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities and beach visits. Recommended places: Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc Island, Con Dao Islands (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), Vung Tau City, Dong Nai province, etc.
• Rainy Season (May - November): the rainy season in the South region is characterized by increased rainfall and higher humidity. Its temperature will be from 25°C to 32°C (77-89.6°F). Tropical showers and thunderstorms are common, often occurring in the afternoon or evening. The rain showers can be heavy but are usually short-lived. Despite the rain, the region remains lush and green during this time. Recommended places: Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho province, Ca Mau province, Ben Tre province, etc.

Central Region

The weather in Central Vietnam is diverse because of its geographical length. The weather in the Central Region is divided into 03 parts, including the North Central Coast,  the South Central Coast, and the Central Highlands. While the North Central Coast is quite similar to the North region with 04 seasons, the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands have 02 seasons like the South region. 

Therefore, the best time to visit destinations in the North Central Coast such as Nghe An province, Quang Binh province, Hue, etc. is autumn. Meanwhile, it is the dry season for the other destinations such as Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Phan Thiet (Ninh Thuan province), Dalat (Lam Dong province), etc.

When to visit Vietnam by tourist volume seasons

Peak season (mid-december to march and july to september).

The period between December and February, as well as July to September, is considered the peak tourist season in Vietnam, particularly for popular tourist destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Nha Trang. According to the Vietnam General Statistics Office, in the peak months of 2023, Vietnam welcomed over one million international tourists each month.

03 things to note when traveling during the peak season:

• Plan and Book in Advance. To secure accommodations, flights, and preferred activities, it is recommended to plan and book your trip well in advance;
• Pack Accordingly. As the weather can vary across different regions of Vietnam, pack appropriate clothing and accessories based on the expected weather conditions during your visit;
• Patience and Tolerance. With the increased number of tourists, it's important to be patient and tolerant of potential delays, crowds, and other inconveniences that may arise.

Low Season (April to June and September to November)

If you want to avoid crowds, you should consider visiting Vietnam during the low season, which is typically from March to April and September to November. These periods provide an opportunity to enjoy popular tourist destinations with fewer tourists and potentially lower prices.

One thing to note when traveling during the low season is to research weather conditions. As the weather can vary across Vietnam, it's essential to research the specific weather patterns of the regions you plan to visit during the low season and pack accordingly.

When to visit Vietnam to enjoy Festivals and Holidays

Lunar new year - tết eve.

Lunar New Year is the most essential holiday of the year in Vietnamese culture. The time to celebrate Tet is according to the Lunar calendar. Therefore, it doesn't have fixed dates in the solar calendar and usually falls between mid-January and late February.

On this holiday, Vietnamese people from all parts of the country and abroad return home for family reunions. All places are decorated with flowers, kumquat trees, lights, and countless decoration forms displaying the Tet holiday. When traveling to Vietnam at this time, you will experience a warm and joyful atmosphere, numerous special traditional activities, and food. You also explore more about Vietnamese culture, history, and cuisine. 

Mid-Autumn Festival - Full Moon Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Full Moon Festival, is one of the special occasions in Vietnam when Vietnamese people celebrate it to welcome the brightest moon of the year. It takes place on the night of the 15th in the 8th Lunar month, between September and late October in the solar calendar.

Beautiful lanterns, colorful masks, and mooncake stalls are 03 significant features that you can see during the weeks before the festival. On the full moon, many groups of lion dancers perform everywhere to create bustling and joyful atmospheres. 

Hue Festival & Hue Craft Village Festival

The Hue Festival and Hue Craft Village Festival celebrate the cultural diversity of Hue through a wide range of artistic performances, exhibitions, traditional crafts, and culinary experiences. During the Hue Festival, the city comes alive with vibrant parades, music and dance performances, theatrical shows, and traditional ceremonies. One of the highlights of the Hue Festival is the Imperial Night, a grand spectacle that takes place within the historic grounds of the Hue Citadel. 

The Hue Festival is typically held every two years around April, May or June, while the Hue Craft Village Festival takes place annually. The exact dates for each festival may vary, so it is recommended to check the official schedule for the latest information.

Hoi An Lantern Festival

The Hoi An Lantern Festival, also known as the Full Moon Lantern Festival, showcases the charm and beauty of Hoi An, particularly its mesmerizing lantern displays. During the festival, Hoi An's streets, buildings, and riverbanks are adorned with countless colorful lanterns. The lanterns come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, creating a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues that illuminate the town with a warm and enchanting glow.

The festival occurs monthly on the 14th day of each lunar month when the full moon shines the brightest, so it provides frequent opportunities for visitors to experience this magical event.

Da Lat Flower Festival

Da Lat Flower Festival showcases the region's abundant flower industry, which is one of the main economic drivers of the area. It takes place every two years, typically in December.

The festival typically features a wide array of flower displays, exhibitions, and competitions. Visitors can admire breathtaking flower arrangements, intricate floral sculptures, and beautifully decorated floats adorned with vibrant blooms. 

Da Nang Firework Festival

Da Nang Firework Festival, also known as the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition, is a spectacular event that lights up the night sky in the coastal city of Da Nang, Vietnam. This festival showcases breathtaking fireworks displays from teams around the world, creating a mesmerizing visual spectacle. The festival is typically held annually, usually during the summer months. 

Vietnam Airlines: Your Gateway to Unforgettable Memories!

Vietnam Airlines presently operates flights to many destinations in Vietnam, providing wide options for travelers all around the world. With our modern fleet of aircraft, comfortable cabins, and additional services such as in-flight entertainment, onboard meals, and frequent flyer programs for loyal customers. Vietnam Airlines is committed to ensuring a pleasant journey for our passengers. 

Let's follow Vietnam Airlines' Mobile app , Website , Facebook fanpage , and Monthly Offers Pages and Subscribe to Enews to receive up-to-date deals and promotions available for subscribers only and to secure your cheap tickets on the journey to Vietnam. 

Plan your trip to beautiful Vietnam right now by booking Vietnam Airlines tickets.

• Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial

Here’s what has happened so far in the unprecedented proceedings against a former u.s. president..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

It’s the first day of the Trump trial and just walking out the door in my house. It’s a beautiful day, 6:11 AM. The thing that keeps running through my head is it’s kind of amazing that hundreds of jurors are going to show up at the Manhattan courthouse. And some of them are going to know what they’re there for — probably talking to their friends, their relatives about it.

Some of them are going to learn this morning talking to other jurors in line, asking what all the fuss is about. But I really do imagine that there’s going to be at least one potential juror who, headphones on, getting into court. Here they’re going to be there for the first criminal trial of Donald J. Trump. And just, I mean, how would you react?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.” Today, what it’s been like inside the lower Manhattan courtroom, where political and legal history are being made? My colleague, Jonah Bromwich, on the opening days of the first criminal trial of a US President. It’s Thursday, April 18.

Is that his mic? Hi, there.

Hello. How are you?

I’m doing good.

OK. Thank you for coming in, Jonah —

Thank you for having me.

— in the middle of a trial. Can you just explain why you’re able to even be here?

Sure. So we happen to be off on Wednesdays during trial, so.

We being not “The New York Times,” but the courts.

That’s right.

Which is why we’re taping with you. And because we now have two full court days of this history-making trial now under our belts. And the thing about this trial that’s so interesting is that there are no cameras in the courtroom for the wider world.

There’s no audio recordings. So all we really have is and your eyes and your notebook, maybe your laptop. And so we’re hoping you can reconstruct for us the scene of the first two days of this trial and really the highlights.

Yeah, I’d be happy to. So on Monday morning, I left the subway. It’s before 7:00 AM. The sun is just rising over these grandiose court buildings in lower Manhattan.

I’m about to turn left onto Center Street. I’m right in front of the big municipal building.

And I turn onto Center Street. That’s where the courthouses are.

I’m crossing.

And I expected to see a big crowd. And it was even bigger than I had anticipated.

Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Now, I finally see the crowd.

You have camera banks. You have reporters. You have the beginnings of what will eventually become a protest. And you have this most New York thing, which is just a big crowd of people.

[CHUCKLES]: Who just know something is going on.

That’s right. And what they know is going on is, of course, the first trial of an American president.

All right, I’m passing the camera, folks. Camera, camera, camera, camera. Here we go.

Let’s start with Sharon Crowley live outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.

I want to get right to ABC’S Aaron Katersky who’s outside of the courthouse.

Robert Costa is following it outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan. Bob, I saw the satellite trucks lined up all in a row. Good morning.

Talk to us how we got here exactly.

So this is the case that was brought by the Manhattan district attorney. So prosecutors have accused Donald Trump of covering up the actions of his former fixer, Michael Cohen, after Cohen paid hush money to Stormy Daniels. Stormy Daniels had a story about having had sex with Donald Trump, which Trump has always denied.

Cohen paid her money, and then Trump reimbursed Cohen. And prosecutors say that Trump essentially defrauded the American people because he hid this information that could have been very important for the election from those people when he reimbursed Cohen.

Right. And as I remember it, he also misrepresented what that reimbursement was. Claimed it was a legal fee when, in fact, it was just reimbursing Michael Cohen for a hush money payment.

Exactly, yeah. He definitely didn’t say reimbursement for hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. It’s a cover up case. It’s a case about hiding information you don’t want people to see.

Right. And of course, the context of all this is that it is in the middle of a presidential election. It’s 2016. Trump wants to keep this secret, prosecutors allege, so that the American public doesn’t know about it and potentially hold it against him.

Right. And prosecutors are telling a story about election interference. They’re saying that Trump interfered with an election. And Trump himself is also using the phrase “election interference.” But he’s painting the trial itself as election interference as he now runs again in 2024.

Fascinating.

And because we’re in Manhattan, and because the jury pool is going to be largely Democratic, and the judge is a Democrat, and the district attorney is a Democrat, Trump keeps claiming he cannot get a fair shake. This is democrat central. And in democrat central, Trump doesn’t have a chance.

OK. So, what happens once you actually enter the courthouse?

Outside, there’s all this fanfare. But inside, it’s a little bit business as usual. So I go up to the 15th floor, and I walk into the courtroom, and I sit down, and it’s the same old courtroom. And we’re sitting and waiting for the former president.

Around 9:30, Trump walks in. He looks thin. He looks a little tired, kind of slumping forward, as if to say with his body like let’s get this over with. Here we go.

The judge walks in a little bit after that. And we think we’re all set for the trial to start, but that’s not what happens here. And in fact, there are a series of legal arguments about what the trial is going to look like and what evidence is going to be allowed in.

So, for example, prosecutors ask that they be allowed to admit into evidence headlines from “The National Enquirer” that were attacks on Trump’s 2016 opponents — on Ted Cruz, on Marco Rubio, on Ben Carson.

Because prosecutors are in some sense putting Trump’s 2016 campaign on trial. These headlines are a big part of that because what prosecutors say they show is that Trump had this ongoing deal with “The National Enquirer.” And the publisher would promote him, and it would publish damaging stories about his opponents. And then crucially, it would protect Trump from negative stories. And that’s exactly what prosecutors say happened with Stormy Daniels. That “The National Enquirer” tipped Cohen off about Stormy Daniels trying to sell her story of having had sex with Donald Trump, which he denies. And that led to the hush money payment to her. So what prosecutors are doing overall with these headlines is establishing a pattern of conduct. And that conduct, they say, was an attempt to influence the election in Trump’s favor.

And the judge agrees. He’s going to admit this evidence. And this is a pretty big win for the prosecution. But even though they win that one, they’re not winning everything.

They lose some important arguments here. One of them was that after the Access Hollywood tape came out, there were allegations of sexual assault against Donald Trump. And you know this, Michael, because you reported two of them — two of the three in question at this very trial.

Prosecutors had hoped to talk about those during trial in front of the jury to show the jurors that the Trump campaign was really, really focused on pushing back against bad press in the wake of the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump seemed to describe sexual assault. That was a big problem for the campaign. Campaign did everything it could to push back, including against these allegations that surfaced in the wake of the tape.

But the judge, saying that the allegations are hearsay — that they’re based on the women’s stories — says absolutely not. That is incredibly prejudicial to the defendant.

Interesting.

And that Donald Trump would actually not get a fair trial were those allegations to be mentioned. And so he will not let those in. The jurors will not hear about them.

So this is a setback, of course, for the prosecution, a victory for Trump’s legal team.

It’s a setback. And it also just shows you how these pre-trial motions shape the context of the trial. Think of the trial as a venue like a theater or an athletic contest of some sort. And these pre-trial motions are about what gets led into the arena and what stays out. The sexual assault allegations — out. “The National Enquirer” headlines — in.

OK. And how is Trump sitting there at the defense table reacting to these pre-trial motion rulings from the judge?

Well, as I’ve just said, this is very important stuff for his trial.

Right. Hugely important.

But it’s all happening in legal language, and I’m decoding it for you. But if you were sitting there listening to it, you might get a little lost, and you might get a little bored. And Trump, who is not involved in these arguments, seems to fall asleep.

Seems to fall asleep — you’re seeing this with your own eyes.

What we’re seeing, overall, including our colleague, Maggie Haberman, who’s in the overflow room and has a direct view of Trump’s face — I’m sitting behind him in the courtroom, so I can’t see his face that well.

You guys are double teaming this.

That’s right. I’m sitting behind him, but Maggie is sitting in front of him. And what she sees is not only that his eyes are closed. That wouldn’t get you to he is asleep.

And we have to be really careful about reporting that he’s asleep, even if it seems like a frivolous thing. But what happens is that his head is dropping down to his chest, and then it’s snapping back up. So you’ve seen that, when a student —

I’ve done that.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah. We all kind of know that feeling of snapping awake suddenly. And we see the head motion, and it happens several times.

Lawyers kind of bothering him, not quite shaking him, but certainly trying to get his attention. And that head snapping motion, we felt confident enough to report that Trump fell asleep.

During his own criminal trial’s opening day.

Does someone eventually wake him up?

He wakes up. He wakes up. And in fact, in the afternoon, he’s much more animated. It’s almost as if he wants to be seen being very much awake.

Right. So once these pre-trial motions are ruled on and Trump is snapped back to attention, what happens?

Well, what happens in the courtroom is that the trial begins. The first trial of an American president is now in session. And what marks that beginning is jurors walking into the room one by one — many of them kind of craning their necks over at Donald Trump, giggling, raising their eyebrows at each other, filing into the room, and being sworn in by the judge. And that swearing in marks the official beginning of the trial.

The beginning is jury selection, and it’s often overlooked. It’s not dramatized in our kind of courtroom dramas in the same way. But it’s so important. It’s one of the most important parts of the case. Because whoever sits on the jury, these are the 12 people who are going to decide whether Trump is guilty or whether Trump is innocent.

So how does jury selection actually look and feel and go?

So, jury selection is a winnowing process. And in order to do that, you have to have these people go through a bunch of different hurdles. So the first hurdle is, after the judge describes the case, he asks the group — and there are just short of 100 of them — whether they can be fair and impartial. And says that if they can’t, they should leave. And more than half the group is instantly gone.

So after we do this big mass excusal, we’re left with the smaller group. And so now, jurors are getting called in smaller groups to the jury box. And what they’re going to do there is they’re going to answer this questionnaire.

And this part of the process is really conducted by the judge. The lawyers are involved. They’re listening, but they’re not yet asking questions of the jurors themselves.

And what’s on the questionnaire?

Well, it’s 42 questions. And the questions include, their education, their professional histories, their hobbies, what they like to do whether you’re a member of QAnon or Antifa.

Whether you’re far left or far right.

That’s right. Whether you’ve read “The Art of the Deal,” Trump’s book, which some prospective jurors had.

Right. It was a bestseller in its time.

That’s right. And some of it can be answered in yes/no questions, but some of it can be answered more at length. So some of the prospective jurors are going very, very fast. Yes, no, no, no, yes.

Right. Because this is an oral questionnaire.

That’s right. But some of them are taking their time. They’re expanding on their hobbies. So the potential juror in seat 3, for example, is talking about her hobbies. And she says some running, hiking. And then she said, I like to go to the club, and it got a huge laugh. And you get that kind of thing in jury selection, which is one of the reasons it’s so fun. It’s the height of normality in this situation that is anything but normal.

Right. The most banal answer possible delivered in front of the former president And current Republican nominee for president.

Well, that’s one of the fascinating parts about all this, right? is that they’re answering in front of Trump. And they’re answering questions about Trump in front of Trump. He doesn’t react all that much. But whenever someone says they’ve read “The Art of the Deal —” and there are a few of those — he kind of nods appreciatively, smiles. He likes that. It’s very clear. But because there are so many questions, this is taking forever, especially when people are choosing to answer and elaborate and digress.

This is when you fall asleep.

This Is. When I would have fallen asleep if I were a normal person.

And by the end of the day. Where does jury selection stand?

Well, the questionnaire is another device for shrinking that jury pool. And so the questionnaire has almost these little obstacles or roadblocks, including, in fact, a question that jurors have seen before — whether they would have any problem being fair and impartial?

Hmm. And they ask it again.

They’re asked it again. And they’re asked in this more individualized way. The judge is questioning them. They’re responding.

So, remember that woman who said she liked to go to the club got a big laugh. She reaches question 34. And question 34 reads, “Do you have any strong opinions or firmly-held beliefs about former President Donald Trump or the fact that he is a current candidate for president that would interfere with your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?” She said, yes, she does have an opinion that would prevent her from being fair and impartial. And she, too, is excused.

So that’s how it works. People answer the questionnaire, and they get excused in that way, or they have a scheduling conflict once they reach the jury box. And so to answer your question, Michael. At the end of day one, given all these problems with the questionnaire and the length of time it’s taken to respond to and people getting dismissed based on their answers, there is not a single juror seated for this trial.

And it’s starting to look like this is going to be a really hard case for which to find an impartial jury.

That’s the feeling in the room, yeah.

We’ll be right back.

So Jonah, let’s turn to day 2. What does jury selection look like on Tuesday?

So when the day begins, it looks almost exactly like it looked when the day ended on Monday. We’re still with the questionnaire, getting some interesting answers. But even though it feels like we’re going slow, we are going.

And so we’ve gone from about 100 people to now there’s about 24 the room there’s 18 the jury box. And by the time we hit lunch, all those people have answered all those questions, and we are ready for the next step in the process.

Voir dire. And what it is the heart of jury selection. This is the point where the lawyers themselves finally get to interview the jurors. And we get so much information from this moment because the lawyers ask questions based on what they want out of the jurors.

So the prosecution is asking all these different kinds of questions. The first round of wajir is done by a guy named Joshua Steinglass, a very experienced trial lawyer with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. And he’s providing all these hypotheticals. I’ll give you one example because I found this one really, really interesting. He provides a hypothetical about a man who wants his wife killed and essentially hires a hitman to do it. And what he asked the jurors is, if that case were before you, would you be able to see that the man who hired the hitman was a part of this crime?

And of course, what he’s really getting at is, can you accept that even though Michael Cohen, Trump’s fixer, made this payment, Trump is the guy who hired him to do it?

That’s right. If there are other people involved, will jurors still be able to see Donald Trump’s hands behind it all?

Fascinating. And what were some of the responses?

People mostly said, yes, we accept that. So that’s how the prosecution did it.

But the defense had a totally different method of voir dire. They were very focused on their client and people’s opinions about their client.

So what kind of questions do we get from them?

So the lawyer, Todd Blanche, is asking people, what do you make of President Trump? What do you think of President Trump?

And what are some of the responses to that?

Well, there’s this incredible exchange with one of the jurors who absolutely refuses to give his opinion of Donald Trump. They go back and forth and back and forth. And the juror keeps insisting you don’t need to know my opinion of him. All you need to know is that I’m going to be fair and impartial, like I said. And Blanch pushes, and the guy pushes back. And the only way the guy budges is he finally kind of confesses almost at the end that, yes, I am a Democrat, and that’s all we get.

And what ends up happening to this potential juror?

Believe it or not, he got dismissed.

[LAUGHS]: I can believe it. And of course, it’s worth saying that this guy and everybody else is being asked that question just feet from Trump himself.

That’s right. And you might think you were going to get a really kind of spicy, like, popcorn emoji-type exchange from that. But because these are now jurors who have said they can be fair and impartial, who, to some extent, want to be on this jury or at least wouldn’t mind being on this jury, they’re being very restrained.

Mostly, what they are emphasizing — much like that guy just described dis — is that they can be fair. They can be impartial. There’s one woman who gives this really remarkable answer.

She says, I thought about this last night. I stayed up all night. I couldn’t sleep, thinking about whether I could be fair. It’s really important to me, and I can.

What ends up happening to that particular juror?

She’s also dismissed. And she’s dismissed without any reason at all. The defense decides it doesn’t like her. It doesn’t want her on the jury. And they have a certain number of chances to just get rid of jurors — no questions asked.

Other jurors are getting dismissed for cause — I’m doing air quotes with my hands — which means that the lawyers have argued they actually revealed themselves through their answers or through old social media posts, which are brought up in the courtroom, to be either non-credible, meaning they’ve said they can be fair and they can’t, or somehow too biased to be on the jury.

Wait, can I just dial into that for a second? Are lawyers researching the jurors in real time going online and saying — I’m making this up — but Jonah Bromwich is a potential juror, and I’m going to go off into my little corner of the courtroom and Google everything you’ve ever said? Is that what’s happening in the room?

Yeah, there’s a whole profession dedicated to that. It’s called jury consultant, and they’re very good at finding information on people in a hurry. And it certainly looked as if they were in play.

Did a social media post end up getting anybody kicked off this jury?

Yes, there were posts from 2016 era internet. You’ll remember that time as a very heated one on the internet, Facebook memes are a big thing. And so there’s all kinds of lock him up type memes and rhetoric. And some of the potential jurors here have used those. And those jurors are dismissed for a reason.

So we have these two types of dismissals, right? We have these peremptory dismissals — no reason at all given. And we have for cause dismissals.

And the process is called jury selection. But you don’t actually get selected for a jury. The thing is to make it through all these obstacles.

You’re left over.

Right. And so when certain jurors are not dismissed, and they’ve made it through all these stages, by the end of the day, we have gone from zero juror seated to seven jurors who will be participating in Donald Trump’s trial.

Got it. And without going through all seven, just give us a little bit of a sketch of who so far is on this jury. What stands out?

Well, not that much stands out. So we’ve got four men. We’ve got three women. One lives on the Upper East Side. One lives in Chelsea. Obviously, they’re from all over Manhattan.

They have these kind of very normal hobbies like spending time with family and friends. They have somewhat anonymous jobs. We’ve got two lawyers. We’ve got someone who’s worked in sales.

So there’s not that much identifying information. And that’s not an accident . One of the things that often happens with jury selection, whether it be for Donald Trump or for anyone else, is the most interesting jurors — the jurors that kind of catch your attention during the process — they get picked off because they are being so interesting that they interest one or the other side in a negative way. And soon they’re excused. So most of the jurors who are actually seated —

Are not memorable.

Are not that memorable, save one particular juror.

OK. All right, I’ll bite. What do I need to know about that one particular juror?

So let me tell you about a prospective juror who we knew as 374, who will now be juror number five. She’s a middle school teacher from Harlem. And she said that she has friends who have really strong opinions about Trump, but she herself does not. And she insisted several times, I am not a political person.

And then she said this thing that made me quite surprised that the prosecution was fine with having her on the jury. She said, quote, “President Trump speaks his mind, and I’d rather that than someone who’s in office who you don’t know what they’re thinking.”

Hmm. So she expressed approval of President Trump.

Yeah, it was mild approval. But the thing is, especially for the defense in this trial, all you need is one juror. One juror can tie up deliberations in knots, and you can end with a hung jury. And this is actually something that I saw firsthand. In 2019, I was the foreperson on a jury.

How you like that?

Yeah. And the trial was really complicated, but I had thought while we were doing the trial, oh, this is going to be a really easy decision. I thought the defendant in that case was guilty. So we get into deliberations, but there’s this one juror who keeps gumming up the works every time we seem to be making progress, getting a conversation started.

This juror proverbially throws up his hands and says, I am not convicting. This man is innocent. And we talked and we talked. And as the foreperson, I was trying to use all my skills to mediate.

But any time we made any progress, this guy would blow it up. And long story short, hung jury — big victory for the defense lawyer. And we come out of the room. And she points at this juror. The guy —

The defense lawyer.

The defense lawyer points at this juror who blew everything up. And she said, I knew it. I knew I had my guy.

OK. I don’t want to read too much into what you said about that one juror. But should I read between the lines to think that if there’s a hung jury, you wonder if it might be that juror?

That’s what everyone in the courtroom is wondering not just about this juror, but about every single person who was selected. Is this the person who swings the case for me? Is this the person who swings the case against me?

These juries are so complex. It’s 12 people who don’t know each other at the start of the trial and, by the end of the trial, have seen each other every morning and are experiencing the same things, but are not allowed to have talked about the case until deliberations start. In that moment when deliberations start —

You’re going to learn a whole lot about each other.

That’s right. There’s this alchemical moment where suddenly, it all matters. Every personality selected matters. And that’s why jury selection is so important. And that’s why these last two days are actually one of the most important parts of this trial.

OK. So by my math, this trial will require five more jurors to get to 12. I know also they’re going to need to be alternates. But from what you’re saying what looked like a really uphill battle to get an impartial jury or a jury that said it could be impartial — and Trump was very doubtful one could be found — has turned out to not be so hard to find.

That’s right. And in fact, we went from thinking, oh, boy, this is going awfully slowly, to the judge himself saying we could be doing opening arguments as soon as Monday morning. And I think that highlights something that’s really fascinating both about this trial and about the jury selection process overall.

One of the things that lawyers have been arguing about is whether or not it’s important to figure out what jurors’ opinions about Donald Trump are. And the prosecution and, I think, the judge have really said, no, that’s not the key issue here. The key issue is not whether or not people have opinions about Donald Trump.

Right. Who doesn’t have an opinion about Donald Trump?

Exactly. They’re going to. Automatically, they’re going to. The question is whether or not they can be fair and impartial. And the seven people we already have seated, and presumably the five people that we’re going to get over the next few days and however many alternates — we expect six — are all going to have answered that question, not I hate Trump; I love Trump, but I can weigh in on the former president’s innocence or guilt, and I can do it as fairly as humanly possible.

Now, Trump is not happy about this. He said after court yesterday, quote, We have a highly conflicted judge, and he’s rushing this trial.” And I think that he is going to see these beats of the system the criminal justice system as it works on him as he is experiencing it as unfair. That is typically how he talks about it and how he views it.

But what he’s getting is what defendants get. This is the system in New York, in the United States. This is its answer to how do you pick a fair jury? Well, you ask people can you be fair? And you put them through this process, and the outcome is 12 people.

And so I think we’re going to see this over and over again in this trial. We’re going to see Trump experience the criminal justice system.

And its routines.

Yeah, openings, witnesses, evidence, closings. He’s going to go through all of it. And I think, at every turn, it makes sense to expect him to say, well, this is not fair. Well, the judge is doing something wrong. Well, the prosecutors are doing something wrong. Well, the jury is doing something wrong.

But at the end of the day, he’s going to be a defendant, and he’s going to sit, mostly silently if his lawyers can make him do that, and watch this process play itself out. So the system is going to try and treat him like any other defendant, even though, of course —

— he’s not. And he is going to fight back like no other defendant would, like no other defendant could. And that tension, him pushing against the criminal justice system as it strives to treat him, as it would anyone else, is going to be a defining quality of this trial.

Well, Jonah, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Of course. Thanks so much for having me. [MUSIC PLAYING]

PS, have you ever fallen asleep in a trial?

I have not.

[CHUCKLES]:

Here’s what else you need to know today.

It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act. We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that, as I said —

During a visit to Jerusalem on Wednesday, Britain’s foreign Secretary left little doubt that Israel would retaliate against Iran for last weekend’s aerial attack, despite pressure from the United States and Britain to stand down. The question now is what form that retaliation will take? “The Times” reports that Israel is weighing several options, including a direct strike on Iran, a cyber attack, or targeted assassinations. And —

Look, history judges us for what we do. This is a critical time right now, critical time on the world stage.

In a plan that could threaten his job, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson will put a series of foreign aid bills up for a vote this weekend. The bills, especially for aid to Ukraine, are strongly opposed by far-right House Republicans, at least two of whom have threatened to try to oust Johnson over the plan.

I can make a selfish decision and do something that’s different, but I’m doing here what I believe to be the right thing. I think providing lethal aid to Ukraine right now is critically important. I really do. I really — [MUSIC PLAYING]

Today’s episode was produced by Rikki Novetsky, Will Reid, Lynsea Garrison, and Rob Zubko. It was edited by Paige Cowett, contains original music by Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly Lake.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

• April 19, 2024   •   30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
• April 15, 2024   •   24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
• April 14, 2024   •   46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’
• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma
• April 9, 2024   •   30:48 How Tesla Planted the Seeds for Its Own Potential Downfall
• April 8, 2024   •   30:28 The Eclipse Chaser
• April 7, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘What Deathbed Visions Teach Us About Living’

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Jonah E. Bromwich

Produced by Rikki Novetsky ,  Will Reid ,  Lynsea Garrison and Rob Szypko

Edited by Paige Cowett

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Marion Lozano and Elisheba Ittoop

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Political and legal history are being made in a Lower Manhattan courtroom as Donald J. Trump becomes the first former U.S. president to undergo a criminal trial.

Jonah Bromwich, who covers criminal justice in New York, explains what happened during the opening days of the trial, which is tied to Mr. Trump’s role in a hush-money payment to a porn star.

On today’s episode

Jonah E. Bromwich , who covers criminal justice in New York for The New York Times.

Background reading

Here’s a recap of the courtroom proceedings so far.

Mr. Trump’s trial enters its third day with seven jurors chosen.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in New York, with a focus on the Manhattan district attorney’s office and state criminal courts in Manhattan. More about Jonah E. Bromwich

Advertisement